Ronald Phillips Campbell

Ronald Phillips Campbell, 85 of St. Albans, West Virginia, passed away on May 9, 2015 surrounded by his family. Ron was preceded in death by his parents, Peter and Stella Campbell and his twin brother Raymond. He is survived by his wife of 63 years, Teresa Hill Campbell, his four children, Leslie Hunt (William), of Harrisville, RI, Ronald P. Campbell, Jr. (Lisa) of Germantown, TN, Sara Campbell Garska of Houston, TX and Amanda Johnson (Herb) of Nitro; eight grandchildren; Erin Ruegg, Teresa Rouillard (Shawn), Christina Boudreau (Tee Jay), Justin Cartmill (Ali), Nicholas Cartmill, Stacey Rodriguez (Matt), Kathleen Garska (Derrick Smith), Daniel Garska and 12 great-grandchildren with a 13th due in November: James, Clare, Simon, Violet, Eliza, and Cecily Rouillard; Casey and Finlay Boudreau; Jackson and Griffin Cartmill; Lillian and Annabelle Rodriguez. Ron was a resident of St. Albans for 38 years and Alum Creek for 20 years. Born in Parkersburg, he grew up in Dunbar and graduated from Dunbar High School in 1947, where he played the French horn in the concert band. He served his country at the Pentagon during the Korean War. Ron was also a 37 year employee of Union Carbide Corp. in South Charleston, where he began in the labor gang and finished his years as a transportation department head. Throughout his lifetime, Ron had many interests. His lifelong interest in airplanes began as a boy when he was a spotter of enemy planes during World War II and culminated in his learning to fly and soloing. Ron also served many years as a water safety instructor at local pools and was a Little League coach for his son and later his grandsons. Ron was an active member of his community and loved to spend time with friends for both fun and service. He participated in the Cherry River Navy, the Cotillion Club and was a 35 year parishioner at St. Francis of Assisi Church, where he served as a lector and was a member of the Catholic War Vets. Ever the adventurer, Ron began the annual canoe race in the Sternwheel Regatta and loved whitewater rafting and canoeing. At age 50 he fulfilled his life long dream of owning a horse. This led to buying a 35 acre farm, which he filled with many more horses, peacocks, dogs, cats, honeybees and a fishing pond, creating a “magic place” for his grandchildren. While living on the Campbell farm in Alum Creek, Ron and Teresa welcomed second and third graders from Alban School for day field trips for many years, giving them an opportunity to explore nature and animals. Ron also offered the farm as a facility for therapeutic horseback riding for ten years, serving also as a volunteer at other places. Over a ten year period, while raising a family of four children, working shift work and surviving major industrial accidents, Ron earned a degree in Business Administration from West Virginia State College in 1967. In retirement Ron remained active in his church and also in his community by training a search and rescue dog and working as a rescuer for several years with his beloved German Shepherd Heidi. The family extends a special thank you to Cindy Bright for her tender friendship and care of Ron for nearly three years, the staff of CAMC General Division, MICU and the staff of Hubbard Hospice House, West for the care they provided. Visitation will be held from 6-8pm Tuesday May 12, 2015 with the Rosary at 7:30pm at Bartlett-Chapman Funeral Home, St. Albans. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11:00am Wednesday May 13, 2015 at St. Francis of Assisi Church, 525 Holley Street, St. Albans with Rev. Father Patrick M. McDonough as celebrant. Burial with Military Honors will follow in St. Patrick’s Cemetery, Scott Depot. In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial donations to: Hubbard Hospice House, West, 4605 A MacCorkle Avenue, SW, South Charleston, WV 25309; Make-A-Wish Foundation or Autistm Speaks. Visit www.chapmanfuneralhomes.co to share memories and stories of Ron with the family. Bartlett-Chapman Funeral Home, family-owned and located at 409 Sixth Avenue, St. Albans is honored to serve the Campbell family.

Ronald Phillips Campbell

June 25, 1929 - May 9, 2015