Obituary

James A. Campbell, of Charleston, West Virginia, experienced his final transition on May 20, 2024, and was at peace with God.

Dr. Campbell was born on November 7, 1944. He married Shirley Lawrence Hart Campbell on January 1, 2001. A graduate of Dunbar High School, he received two bachelor’s degrees from WVSC, in chemistry and in secondary education. He earned his Ph.D. in organic chemistry from Virginia Tech.  A research chemist at heart, he worked at the University of Alabama, WVSC, Mount Sinai Medical Center of Miami Beach, University of Miami, and Virginia Tech. He authored or coauthored 25 scientific publications and presented 30 research papers to the scientific community. He was a member of the Beta Kappa Chi National Scientific Honor Society, the Phi Lambda Upsilon Honorary Chemical Society, and the Society of the Sigma Xi. He served 11 years in the Marine Corps leaving as a Major in 1981. He served as the Corps’ only Nuclear, Biological and Chemical Defense Officer.  He served as a platoon commander with the 4^th ANGLICO, a unit which was later re-designated as a guided missile weapons unit. During this time, he was a Wood Badge recipient, one of his most rewarding accomplishments working with young boys as a Cubmaster and Unit Commissioner with the original Boy Scouts of America.  He taught chemistry and math at Nitro High School. While at Nitro, with a team of six students won first place in a competition sponsored by the American Chemical Society, outscoring 24 other teams.  He later accepted a three-year position at Virginia Tech as a Research Associate. He returned to West Virginia as Laboratory Director for WVDEP and as Assistant Director/Director for the WVDA.

Jim was a member of Mt. Olivet Baptist Church in Kanawha City where he sang in the choir and participated in the church’s outreach ministries.  In his retirement years, he volunteered at many events, taking photos at over 100 running events.  He was awarded the Inspiration Award in January 2024.

Jim was preceded in death by his father, James M. Campbell, and his mother, Aucella Nutter Campbell.  He is survived by his wife, Shirley, of Kanawha City, his sons, James Edward (Kimberly) Campbell of Miami, Florida, and Richard (Caren) Campbell of Teays Valley, his daughters, Valerie (James) Weatherspoon of Miami, Florida, and Natalie (Jason) Lykens of Nitro, his sisters, Karyl Akers of Richwood, Ohio, and Katherine Arthur of Dunbar, one step-daughter, Deborah Carpenter of St. Albans, two grandchildren, two great grandsons, two step-grandchildren, three step-great granddaughters, his special friend, his cat, Periwinkle, ,and several nieces and nephews.

To celebrate his life, there will be a memorial service will be held at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, June 1, 2024, at the Mt. Olivet Baptist Church in Kanawha City, with Pastors Gary W. Hall and Josh Hall officiating. A reception will follow the service in the Family Life Center at the church.

Friends wishing to do so may visit with the family one hour prior to the service.

The interment of Jim’s cremains will take place at 10:00 a.m. Monday, June 3, 2024, at Donel C. Kinnard Memorial State Veterans Cemetery, Institute, West Virginia.

In lieu of flowers, Jim has requested that donations be made in his memory to the Mt. Olivet Baptist Church, 6532 MacCorkle Ave. SE, Charleston, WV 25304.

Online condolences may be sent to the family by visiting www.barlowbonsall.com.

Barlow Bonsall Funeral Home, Charleston, will oversee arrangements.