Lilla Elise Camp

Lilla Elise Camp was born March 23, 1918 in Columbia, South Carolina to William and Mary Trezevant. She was third from the oldest in a family of 12 children. She learned to love and care for others at a very young age. Her first thoughts were seldom for herself but were for the comfort of others.

A very strong independent person she enlisted in the United States Army on May 10, 1944 as a member of the Women’s Army Core (WAC). After being Honorably Discharged, she chose to stay in Des Moines, Iowa where she met and married our father, also a WWII Veteran, Harry H. Camp, Sr. in 1946. From this union was born six children.

Our parents were surrogate parents to the neighborhood. My mother organized block parties and charity events for the community. She was active in the PTA, VFW, and the Treasure of the United Methodist Women’s Group. In addition to her volunteer work, mother also worked full-time to help ensure that her children had everything they needed to help them succeed in life. First as a clerk for the U.S. Postal service and later for Iowa Children’s Family Service.

Mother enjoyed traveling, listening to music, crocheting, reading and spending time with her numerous grand and great-grandchildren. She held them all in her loving arms; from the eldest age 44 to the youngest 17 months.

Mom ended her legacy of service when she answered the Master’s call to rest on April 22, 2014. Waiting to welcome her home are those who walked before her, especially her life companion and love, our father, Harry; her parents, and her siblings.

Funeral services will be 10:00 a.m., Monday, April 28, 2014 at Hamilton’s on Westown Parkway, 3601 Westown Parkway in West Des Moines. Burial will be at 12:30 PM, Monday at Iowa Veterans Cemetery. Visitation will be 4:00 to 6:00 p.m. Sunday, April 27, 2014 at the funeral home.

Left to cherish her memory are her children, Claude (Gene), and Wayne Sr. of Des Moines, Iowa, John Marvin of Huntsville, Alabama, Harry Jr. of Harlingen, Texas, Murriel (Jonesy) of San Jose, California; the two grandchildren she helped raise, Yolonda and Wayne Jr. and a host of other grand and great-grandchildren and friends. We all miss her so much!

Online condolences may be expressed at www.HamiltonsFuneralHome.com.

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