Wilbert Forbes Campbell, a Northwest Portland resident and a retired Air Force Lt. Colonel, died on Feb. 24, 2004, of natural causes due to age. He was 94 years old.
Interment was private, a Celebration of Life will be held at Christ United Methodist Church, April 24, at 1 p.m., 12755 NW Dogwood Street, Portland, Ore.
Colonel Campbell, a native of Portland, was born on November 16, 1909, and was a descendent of early Oregon pioneers Hector and Olive Soule Campbell, who settled on a donation land claim near Milwaukie in 1849.
He graduated from Benson High School in 1927, and received a Bachelor of Science degree from Oregon State University in 1933, a Master of Science degree from New York University in 1937, and was a graduate of Command and General Staff School at Fort Leavenworth, Kan., in 1945.
He married Lucille H. Hudelson on June 26, 1934. He was a merchant in North Powder from 1934 to 1938, at which time he and his wife moved to Portland.
Colonel Campbell was a veteran of World War II and the Korean War, serving in the Pacific, North African and European theaters. After the Korean War, he became the Director of Civilian Personnel at Headquarters Allied Forces Southern Europe (NATO), Naples, Italy. He retired in 1962 from Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Dayton, Ohio, where he had been Director of Air Force Support. He returned to Portland after retirement at that time. From 1964 to 1977, he was an Import Specialist with the US Customs Services in Portland.
He was a life member and a 33rd Degree Scottish Rite Mason; a life member of Baker Masonic Lodge No. 47; the Royal Order of Scotland; The Military Order of the World Wars; The Portland Retired Officers Club; a life member of the Retired Officers Association; Christ United Methodist Church; Oregon State University Alumni Association; Sigma Phi Epsilon Fraternity; Alpha Delta Sigma; and the Portland Golf Club.
He and his wife traveled extensively, both while in the service and after retirement. He enjoyed playing golf, gardening, and watching sporting events. He was interested in National activities, and was a charter founder of the Ronald Reagan Republican Center in Washington DC.
He is survived by a daughter, Linda Knapp, Aloha, and a son, Wilbert F. Campbell, Jr. and daughter in law, Kathy of Portland, five grandchildren, and four great- grandchildren.
The family suggests that remembrances be made to the Scottish Rite Foundation For Childhood Language Disorders, 1507 SW Morrison St, Portland, OR 97205 or a charity of one’s choice.
Used with permission from: The Record Courier, Baker City, Oregon, April 2004
Transcribed by: Belva Ticknor