RIP: Leland F. Campbell

[windyscotty]

It saddened me to learn of the passing of this peach of a man. Good old Leland was a veteran of WWII, Korea and Nam.

He loved people so much and had such a good attitude that he waved hi to everyone who passed by his street in Bishop. He especially loved it when the kids were going to school in the morning. He would be out there on his scooter with his little wiener dog waving to everyone who passed by, including me. It made my day to see him.

Goodbye old Sierra Street Waver. You were a wonderful soul and made Bishop all the brighter with your smile.

[Cruzer]

RIP old guy...He lived just down the street from me.

[mspamelablythe]

So sorry for your loss

[my395]

I'll miss seeing him out waving. Brightened my day.

[Cruzer]

http://www.inyoregister.com/node/2435

March 12, 2012
Leland F. Campbell
1925-2012

Members of the Bishop Veterans of Foreign Wars, Post No. 8988, family and friends are mourning the loss of three-war veteran Leland F. Campbell, 87.
Campbell, who was known to many in Bishop as the “Sierra Street Waver,” served in the U.S. Navy in World War II, Korea and Vietnam before starting his own bakery in Nevada City, Nev. Later, he returned to college and worked as an auto mechanic.
Leland joined the Navy at 19 in 1943 and was assured he would be sent to cooking school, but instead spend the remainder of the second World War driving landing craft in the Pacific Theater.
When he came to Bishop 80 years ago, he eventually met Lloyd Young and the two discovered they had both served in the Pacific Theater in 1944.
After the war, Leland finally got to cooking school and became a submariner, serving on nuclear subs during Vietnam.
Leland recently joined the Slim Princess Chapter of E. Clampus Vitus, but was unable to attend the initiation. As such, 15 officers and members went to his home and recreated the entire ceremony in his honor.
Campbell began waving to people driving by his home on Sierra Street shortly after moving there, especially enjoying the children going to school. On occasion, one student or another would stop to bring him coffee, hot chocolate or a donut.
Moving to the intersection of U.S. 395 and Sierra Street because the honking in recognition of Leland’s waving was bothering neighbors, Leland was honored as “Citizen of the Quarter” by the Bishop City Council in April 2011.
Born July 24, 1925, Leland died Feb. 19, 2012 at Boulder City V.A. Hospital in Nevada.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Daisy; and son, Jack.
He is survived by his son and daughter-in-law, Jim and Maggie Campbell of Bishop and Las Vegas; stepson and daughter-in-law, Mike and Mary O’Leary of Bishop; and brother and sister-in-law, Richard and Jean Campbell of Fresno.
Bishop VFW Post No. 8988 will host a celebration of life from 2-5 p.m. Saturday, March 17. All are welcome to attend.


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April 18, 2011
BY MIKE BODINE/REGISTER STAFF
mbodine@inyoregister.com

Leland Campbell , better known as the Sierra Street Waver, doing what he does, giving a smile and wave to all passersby with his faithful pooch, King. Campbell has been given the Bishop City Council Quarterly Citizen Award. Photo by Mike Bodine
The Bishop City Council was busy at its regular meeting on Monday with awards, presentations and department head reports.
The city’s elected leaders started the meeting off with a presentation of its Quarterly Council Citizen Award to Leland Campbell, affectionately known the “Sierra Street Waver.” Campbell can be seen most days sitting on a scooter at the corner of Sierra and Main streets with his dog, “King,” waving and smiling at every passing motorist.
Campbell was accompanied Monday by many members of Bishop Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 8988 where he is the current junior vice-commander. He is a veteran of World War II, Korea and Vietnam.
Post member John Underhill thanked Campbell and said it is a “pleasure” to be associated with such a distinguished man.
A female post member said, with tears running down her cheeks, that Campbell, “Is like my dad. I don’t know what I’d do without your friendship.”
Campbell accepted accolades and the award from the council, but he admitted he was having a hard time hearing what was going on. He said his dog ate his hearing aids.
Campbell also has the honor of being the oldest member of the Clampers Slim Princess 395 Chapter. He was also the grand marshal in the 2010 Bishop Christmas Parade.