Obituary

Gregory J. Campbell, 78, a lifelong resident of Charleston, West Virginia, passed away peacefully on Sunday, March 29, 2026, at Hubbard Hospice House, following several years of declining health.

Greg was a member of the first graduating class of George Washington High School in 1965. He went on to attend West Virginia University, earning a bachelor’s degree in business in May 1969. He then pursued a law degree at the WVU College of Law, but his studies were interrupted in 1972 when he was drafted into the United States Army during the Vietnam War. During his service, Greg attained the rank of Staff Sergeant and had begun Officer Training School when the war ended. After leaving the Army, he returned to WVU and earned his Juris Doctor in 1974.

Throughout his college years, Greg worked road construction to support himself and pay for school. A proud member of the International Union of Operating Engineers Local 132, he worked primarily on the construction of Interstate 79 throughout West Virginia. For the rest of his life, he took great pride in pointing out the roads, bridges, and overpasses he helped build whenever he traveled across the state.

Greg began his legal career as a staff attorney with the West Virginia Workers’ Compensation Department, a position he held for exactly six months before entering private practice. He spent the next 45 years primarily as a federal criminal defense attorney. He was admitted to practice law in West Virginia; the U.S. District Court for the Southern and Northern Districts of West Virginia; and the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Guy Austin Campbell and Kay Campbell. Greg is survived by his children, Brady Campbell (Rachel) of Charleston and Lucas Campbell of Charleston; his grandson, Jack Campbell; and the mother of his children, Beverly Campbell, also of Charleston.

A devoted sports fan, Greg was a lifelong supporter of the Pittsburgh Steelers and the West Virginia University Mountaineers. From 1982 through 2015, he attended nearly every home WVU football game, along with most bowl games. At home, Greg was a dedicated Master Gardener, known for his meticulously maintained lawn and extensive gardens. Over the years, he collected dozens of varieties of daylilies, which filled his yard each summer with brilliant colors.

Greg had a deep love for the outdoors and was an avid fly fisherman, taking annual trips with friends to Canada and Alaska. His favorite destination was the Italio River near Yakutat, Alaska, where he traveled more than 20 times, always returning home with silver salmon and halibut fillets. He was also a passionate skier, calling Snowshoe his “home mountain,” while frequently skiing at resorts throughout the Rocky Mountains.

In addition to the outdoors, Greg had a lifelong appreciation for powerful engines. An avid motorcyclist, he rode his Harley-Davidson across the country and loved sharing stories from his travels while always planning the next adventure. Another treasured “toy” was his beloved 1967 Corvette Stingray, purchased during his college years and proudly entered in car shows later in life.

Greg was a member of the West Virginia State Bar Association, the Kanawha Valley Corvette Club, the Harley Owners Group (H.O.G.), and NORML as the West Virginia Chapter president for over 25 years. He also volunteered his time at the Manna Meal Gardens.

A celebration of life will be held at a future date.

Condolences may be sent to the family at www.barlowbonsall.com.

Barlow Bonsall Funeral Home has been entrusted with the arrangements.