Billie C. Campbell

Billie C. Campbell passed away on Sunday, January 8, 2012, at Holzer Senior Care Center, following a lengthy illness. He was born on August 19, 1923, in Gallia County Ohio, the son of the late John C. Campbell and Belva Mae Waugh Campbell, who both preceded him in death in 1983. He was one of six children, four boys and two girls. All of his brothers and sisters preceded him in death: Herman Lee Campbell, William Jackson Campbell and John Gardner Campbell, Gladys Campbell Johnson and Lillian Campbell Roush. A World War II U.S. Army veteran, he served in the 36th and 3rd Divisions of the Fifth Army. He was in both the North African and European theatres of operation as an infantryman, serving under General Mark Clark during 1943-1944. While serving in the Italian campaign, he was awarded the bronzestar and received his discharge on October 5, 1944. Throughout his career, he was involved in earth moving and highway construction, working in the Columbus area for the V. N. Holderman Construction Company, when he was first out of service. He returned to Gallipolis in 1948 to work with the Joe D. Miller Construction Company, before establishing his own construction firm, Bill C. Campbell, Inc. At the time of his retirement in 1983, he was Field Superintendent for the J. J. Blazer Construction Company, involved in the construction of the Gavin Plant, Tara Development and the Silver Bridge Plaza. On October 21, 1950, he married Marianne Boggs from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They made their home on the family property, just South of Gallipolis on Route 7. In addition to working construction, he was also involved in a farming operation with his father until 1983, when he took early retirement. He remained active in a number of volunteer projects before his illness, most recently with the French City Child Care Center in Gallipolis, where he was lovingly referred to by the children as Papaw Bill. He is survived by his wife of 61 years, Marianne Boggs Campbell, several nieces and nephews, and a host of friends. A member of Grace United Methodist Church, he is a life member of the BPOE Lodge No. 107 in Gallipolis. He is also a member of three lineage societies, First Families of Gallia County, Settlers and Builders of Gallia County and Civil War Families of Gallia County. Funeral services, celebrating his life, will be held at Grace United Methodist Church at 11 oclock on Wednesday morning, January 11, 2012, with Pastor Bill Thomas officiating. Friends may call at the church from 10 11 a.m. prior to the service. Burial will follow in Mound Hill Cemetery. There will be military services at the graveside by volunteers of area veterans lodges. Calling hours will be Tuesday evening, January 10, 2012, from 5 pm until 8 pm at the Willis Funeral Home. Pallbearers will be his nephews, Jack Campbell, Bill Johnson and Rex Johnson, all of Gallipolis, and James G. Campbell of Warren, Ohio, along with James R. Allen and Kenneth Deckard, also of Gallipolis. In lieu of flowers, donations in his memory may be made to Grace United Methodist Church, 600 Second Avenue, Gallipolis, OH 45631 or the French Art Colony, P. O. Box 472, Gallipolis, Ohio. Cemetery: Mound Hill Cemetery Visitation: Willis Funeral Home, Tuesday, January 10, 2012 5-8 p.m. Grace United Methodist Church, Wednesday, January 11, 2012 10-11 a.m. Service: Grace United Methodist Church, Wednesday, January 11, 2012 11:00 a.m.