Donald Stiles Campbell, Jr.

Captain Donald Stiles Campbell Jr. USN (Ret) died on January 11, 2009 at Swedish Medical Center in Seattle, Washington from Leukemia.  He was 77 years old.

He was born on 10 January 1932 in Spokane, Washington and raised in Portland, Oregon and Boise, Idaho. Following high school graduation, he attended Boise Junior College for one year prior to entering the U.S. Naval Academy in 1950. He graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in Naval Science in 1954.

Upon graduation Don joined the Destroyer Fleet serving in various billets for 3 years on board the Long Beach based USS. James E. Kyes (DD-787). Following this tour, he attended the Submarine School and reported to the USS. Spinax (SSR-489) in San Diego. This tour was followed by a succession of tours on diesel-electric submarines including the USS Volador (SS-490); USS Perch (APSS-313); USS Greenfish (SS351); USS Tang (SS-563) and ultimately command of USS Barbel (SS-580). Following his submarine tours, he elected to return to the surface navy and subsequently Commanded USS. Cunningham (DDG-17) and USS. Camden (AOE-2).

His sea duty tours were interspaced with shore duty assignments which included: Assistant Professor of Naval Science at the University of Idaho; Assistant Operations Officer on the Staff of Commander Submarine Force Pacific; Diesel Submarine Force coordinator on the staff of the Director of Submarine Warfare (OP-31) in OPNAV; Washington Placement Officer in the Bureau of Personnel; Executive Assistant and Senior Aide to the Deputy Commander in Chief Atlantic Fleet; Officer responsible for Flag Officer matters in the Bureau of Naval Personnel; and Deputy Commander of Reserve Readiness Command 22 in Seattle, Washington.

Among his personal awards are: two Legion of Merits, three Meritorious Service Medals and two Navy Commendation Medals. He retired in the Seattle area in 1980 and pursued a variety of civilian occupations including: Director of Architectural Operations for Fentron Building Products; Director of West Coast Operations for Gould’s Ocean Systems Division (manufacturing the MK 48 torpedo); and Executive Director of the Chambers of Commerce in Bremerton and Sequim, Washington.

He is survived by his wife of 53 years, Phyllis Campbell; daughters Karen (Casey) Davis and Kim Sanders and son Brad Campbell. Granddaughters Rhya and Dakota Sanders; Laina Campbell and Grandson Cameron Davis.

A celebration of his life will be held on January 16, 2009 at 1:00 pm at Flintofts Funeral Home in Issaquah, Washington. Burial is in Tahoma National Cemetery in Kent, Washington.

Photos posted at http://www.flintoffs.com Flintofs Funeral Home Website