Charles T. Campbell, Jr.

by Lynn McMillen
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Charles T. CampbellCharles T. Campbell, Jr. passed away unexpectedly on February 1, 2025, at the age of 81. He was known to those who knew and loved him as Charlie, Daddy, or Pap and was survived by his wife of 60 years, Donna Jane McClellan Campbell, three children, Charles Bret Campbell and wife Meg, Melissa Beth Ming and husband Nolan, and Amy Darlene Campbell, as well as his siblings Bruce Campbell and Tina Victoria Haynes.  He was proud to be Pap to his ten grandchildren, Beth Campbell and husband Sam West, William Campbell and partner Haley Lisowski, John Campbell, Adelia Stanley, Mary Margaret Stanley, Olivia Ming, Anna Ming, Arlo Ming, Charles M. Campbell and Mary Grace Campbell, and one great-grandchild, Allyson Campbell.  He was preceded in death by his parents, Charles T. Campbell, Sr. and Maxine Wellman Campbell, and two of his three brothers, David Russell Campbell and Ronald Gene Campbell.

 

Charlie was born May 22, 1943, in Louisa, Kentucky and raised in Kentucky and West Virginia, settling in Huntington, West Virginia in his youth, where his father owned Campbell’s Pharmacy.  He married Donna, his high school sweetheart, in 1964 and they both graduated from Marshall University in Huntington in 1967.  After graduation, Charlie began working for Houdaille Industries in its accounting department.  He was transferred to the Powermatic plant in McMinnville after he and Donna had the first two of their three children, and the young family moved to Tennessee.  They quickly set down roots, joining First United Methodist Church, buying a home in Westwood and having their third child in 1973.

 

Charlie stayed with Powermatic for nearly 30 years, and rose to the position of Vice President of Finance/Controller.  After his years with Powermatic, he and Donna realized they both enjoyed real estate and decided to pursue a career as Realtors.  They became known as “the spouses who sell houses,” founding Campbell Realty in 1997.  In 2000, they were blessed with their office on the corner of North Chancery and Donnell Street, where it remains today.  Donna and Charlie, working together every day, found great joy at Campbell Realty.

 

A member of First United Methodist Church, Charlie was active as a trustee, on the Finance Committee, sang bass in the chancel choir and was an overall go-to member for getting things done. He was a Rotarian for many years, delivered meals for Good Neighbors, and was active in many other community-focused projects. He was known for his dry sense of humor, wit, and love of the Marshall University Thundering Herd.

 

Charlie loved to be outside.  He was an avid gardener, even taking the Master Gardener course through Motlow State Community College.  His visits with his grandchildren almost always began with a “walk of the land” to see what was blooming and growing.  He loved animals and birds, but not squirrels.  He loved to fish, golf, or to pretend to hunt. Charlie loved the local lakes and the Atlantic Ocean and took his family on yearly trips to the North and South Carolina Beaches.  Over the past few years, he could be found each Wednesday in local restaurants having lunch with a group of his friends.

 

His greatest love was surely his family. He always made it a point to be home in time for dinner and would play “20 questions” around the kitchen table every night to make sure he knew about everyone’s days at school.  Charlie attended countless games, band concerts, plays, Pioneerette performances, and graduations and was a loving and supportive part of every major life event for the entire family. He kept music on in his man cave, and loved the oldies and jazz – but he listened to pop radio in the car so he would know the songs his grandchildren liked when he picked them up from school.

 

Charlie was a devout Christian, not just attending church every Sunday with his entire family, but also quietly exhibiting his strong faith in his everyday life.  Charlie will be deeply missed by all who knew and loved him.

 

Visitation will be Saturday, February 8 from 5:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. at McMinnville Funeral Home and on Sunday, February 9 at First United Methodist Church from 1:00 p.m. until the time of service at 3:00 p.m.  Burial will follow at Liberty Cemetery on Liberty Lane in McMinnville. In lieu of flowers, the family would welcome donations to First United Methodist Church, the American Cancer Society, the American Red Cross, American Heart Association, or St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital.

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