Richard W. Campbell Jr.

     Richard W. Campbell Jr., 86, of Williamsport, passed away on Easter Sunday, April 9, 2023 at The Williamsport Home.

     Born Nov. 26, 1936 in Williamsport, he was a graduate of Williamsport High School and Eastman School of Music in Rochester, N.Y., where he was also a member of the Eastman Wind Ensemble. He spent a year in Ulm, Germany on a Fulbright Grant.

     Richard was an accomplished bassoonist, and traveled through Europe, Russia, and Egypt with the Rochester Philharmonic, and performed a solo concert at Madison Square Garden in New York City.

     He moved to New York City, where he worked as an editor and sound mixer for the classical recording department at Mercury Record Corporation, which was later bought out by Philips, and then Polygram (Universal Music Group).

     He worked at Polygram from 1962 until he retired in 1983, then returned to Williamsport, where he joined the Williamsport Symphony Orchestra as lead bassoonist, and played part time for the Northeast Philharmonic. He taught numerous students in his spare time.

     He was preceded in death by his parents, Richard W. Campbell and Iva DeFrain Campbell; and a younger brother, Charles James Campbell. He is survived by two sisters, Catherine Jean Campbell and Cheryl Campbell Hart; two nephews, Charles Campbell Jr. and Brett Campbell; three nieces, Jennifer Lynn Duffendack, Ashley Nicole Campbell, and Lauren Campbell; numerous great-nephews and nieces; and his special friends, Bill Cabell, Robert Breon, Connie Robbins, and Dave and Mary Woods.

     Services will be private in the Jersey Shore Cemetery. A memorial service will be held at a later date.

     In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in Richards name may be made to the Parkinson's Foundation at http://www.parkinson.org.

     Arrangements are entrusted to Frederick B. Welker Funeral Home, Jersey Shore.

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