Services for Benson Walker Campbell, Jr., 94, of Morgansfield, Kentucky were held at 11 a.m., Thursday, June 24 at the First Presbyterian Church in Morganfield with Rev. Charles Phillip Riney officiating. Interment followed in the St. Ann Cemetery, Morganfield with full military rites.
Mr. Campbell was born in Fort Worth, Texas, the only son of Benson Walker Campbell, Sr. and Anna Isabella Bunting Campbell. He was raised in Marietta and attended the University of Oklahoma where he graduated with a degree in petroleum engineering. He was a member of Beta Theta Phi social fraternity, Pi Epsilon Tau Honorary Petroleum Engineering Fraternity and ROTC. He entered the Army soon after college and served his country with distinction in WWII and Korea. He was a Colonel in the United States Army when he returned from service.
Mr. Campbell met Margaret Clements Mason in Union County while stationed at Camp Breckenridge. They had five children during their 38-year marriage. He was owner and operator of Mason Waller Motor Company. He retired in 1978 and began living in both Sarasota, Florida and Morganfield.
Mr. Campbell was preceded in death by his parents, his first wife, Margaret Mason Campbell and his second wife, Lavonne Jones Campbell.
Mr. Campbell was a member of First Presbyterian Church in Morganfield and Bee Ridge Presbyterian Church in Sarasota. Mr. Campbell was a man rich in his sense of fairness, integrity and faith. He walked that path each day of his life. He was an avid outdoorsman, enjoying golf, hunting and fishing. He distinguished himself as club champion at Breckinridge Golf and Country Club a number of years.
He is survived by five children, Benson Walker Campbell III and wife, Patsy of Henderson, Kentucky, Camilla Campbell Shumaker and husband, Dr. James Link Shumaker of Paducah, Kentucky, Robert Fitzgerald Campbell and wife, Eloise of Louisville, Kentucky, Mary Margaret Campbell Neeley and husband, David of Prestonsburg, Kentucky and Dorothy Campbell Slack and husband, Edward of Guthrie, Kentucky. He is also survived by four stepchildren, Barbara Greber and husband, Jim of San Antonio, Texas, Bernie Hodge and wife, Martha of Lake Of The Ozarks, Missouri, Vance Hodge and wife, Linda and Steve Hodge, all of St. Louis. He leaves 16 grandchildren, 10 great-grandchildren, step-grandchildren, step-great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews.
Memorial contributions may be made at Friends 4 Cures (funding testicular cancer research), P.O. Box 324, Henderson, KY 42420.