Donna Jean Olmsted

Donna Jean Olmsted (Campbell) was born November 7, 1947, to Truman and Thelma Campbell of Puxico, MO. She had two little sisters that she adored and many close friends that she cherished throughout her life. Donna graduated Puxico high school in 1965. She was an objectively beautiful young woman who competed and won many beauty pageants including Miss Puxico in 1963 and Miss Stoddard County that same year.

Donna married the love of her life, Randolph S. Olmsted, of August of 1972. Together they raised three children and had many adventures together. After running a motel in Wappapello for several years, Randy accepted a position in Camp Zama, Japan in the mid 1980’s and ended up living there for over twenty years.

Donna was very athletic and enjoyed spending time and participating in activities with her running club. She was also an avid reader and enjoyed gardening throughout her life. She won yard of the month many times while living on post overseas and even won yard of the year in 2008. She truly had the ability to beautify any space she occupied. She studied and mastered the Japanese arts of origami (paper folding) and ikebana, the traditional Japanese art of flower arrangement.

She loved babies, children and animals. She loved to walk and ride her bicycle off base and learn as much as she could about the local Japanese culture and cuisine. She also loved to shop, be it for ingredients for chicken and dumplings or for Japanese antiques and the local recycling shop. She volunteered for many fund raisers for the Officers Wives Club and even managed the local consignment shop on post for a number of years as well as the consolidated club in the Sagamihara Housing area.

Donna succumbed to Alzheimer’s disease on January 15, 2026 after a long and exhausting battle She is survived by her loving husband of 53 years, Randolph, and their children, William Bennett and his spouse, Sandra of St. Louis, MO, Sheila Olmsted-Eudaley, and her spouse, Richard, of Poplar Bluff, MO, Olivia Olmsted, and her spouse, Andrew, of Clarksville, TN. Donna is also survived by her sister, Becky Folse, and her spouse, Kirk, of Italy, TX. and her uncle, Gordon Martin of Wentzville, MO. She also leaves behind three beloved grandchildren, Danielle, Tori, and William.

In her short time on earth she loved and was loved by many and will be dearly missed by all who knew her. A celebration of life will be held at Watkins and Sons Funeral Home in Puxico, MO on January 18, 2026. In lieu of flowers, please send donations to https://endalz.org/