Obituary of Betty Jean Campbell

Betty Jean Campbell passed on October 12, 2023 at 93. She  is preceded in death by her parents Olive and Hollis Bounds and her twin sister Barbara Hambric. Betty and Barbara were twins, born on November 9, 1929 in Wichita, Kansas. The family later moved to Tulsa.

Growing up in Tulsa, Betty and Barbara attended Will Rogers High School and June Runyon School of Ballet, enjoyed horseback riding, modeled and were photographed for various Tulsa businesses.

In 1947, Betty and Barbara Bounds were featured in Life magazine. The story was titled “Tulsa Twins, They show how much the teenage world has changed.” The article included a photo essay by the famous photographer Nina Leen. The publication was created to depict the lifestyle and fashion of a typical teenage girl during the Cold War. That publication turned Betty and Barbara into Tulsa celebrities.  They received offers for modeling jobs, letters seeking beauty advice, gifts, and even marriage proposals from as far away as India!  They were even sought after by a talent scout from Los Angeles, but their devoted father Hollis refused to let his precious twins go. The story and photos can still be found on the internet today.

Betty attended the University of Tulsa and Northeastern State University in Tahlequah accumulating a Masters plus thirty hours in Speech, English and Education. While at the University of Tulsa, she was a member of Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority.  After graduating from TU, Betty enjoyed and was always proud of a brief career as a secretary with Apache Oil. She taught for Tulsa Public Schools for over 20 years.  

Betty was a strong and independent woman. Beyond her teaching career, she supported her son and daughter through college, played an active part in the lives of her grandchildren, and lived long enough to know and love her three great grandchildren.  Her children and extended family members will always remember joyful gatherings at their grandparents lake home, known to the family as “the cabin.”

She is survived by son Randy Jones and daughter Barbara Wilson and her husband Doug Wilson of Virginia.  Her grandchildren include Jordan Jones, Beth Wilson, and Chris Wilson with his wife, Hannah Wilson.  Her great grandchildren include Lily Jones, Kathleen Ann Wilson, and John Patrick Wilson.  She is also survived by her nephew Mark Hambric, his wife, and children.

In lieu of flowers, please donate to The First Methodist Church, where she was a member in good standing. In her final years, visits and lunches by friends from the church will always be remembered.