Clayton J. Campbell

Boise, ID
Einan's Funeral Home

Clayton J. Campbell, age 85, of Boise, ID, passed away November 17, 2002, in Richland, Washington, where he had recently moved to be closer to family members. Clayton was born March 14, 1917, in St. Maries, Idaho, to Fred D. and Harriet (Boettcher) Campbell.
While growing up, his family lived in Chelan and Spokane, Washington, and then in Moscow and Orofino, Idaho. He graduated from Orofino High School in 1935. He attended University of Idaho graduating with a degree in architecture in June 1940. He was a member of the Chi Alpha Pi and Tau Kappa Epsilon fraternities. That spring he became engaged to Mary Stevens, his college sweetheart. Upon graduation he joined the Army Air Corps and graduated from Pan America's second navigation class, receiving a commission in May 1941. He and Mary were married June 10, 1941, in Moscow. They started their marriage in Tacoma at Fort Lewis and went on to Pendleton Field, OR. Clayton volunteered for a secret mission which turned out to be the Doolittle Tokyo Raid of April 18, 1942, President Roosevelt's answer to the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor four months earlier. Following that mission he was assigned to the Flying Tigers in China where he was squadron navigator for the B-25 bomber group. A year-and- a-half and 35 missions later, he returned to settle in Boise while teaching navigation at the Mt. Home Air Force Base. After the war, he remained in the Air Force Reserve retiring as a Lt. Colonel. He was a highly decorated veteran, receiving the Silver Star, the Distinguished Flying Cross, and eight other medals including the highest ranking Chinese medal, the Army, Navy, and Air Corps Medal, which was awarded by Madame Chiang Kai- Shek in China.
Following the war Clayton became a carpenter and worked in Boise building houses and later doing finish wood work and cabinetry. In 1951 he designed and built his Boise home where he and Mary raised their five children. Clayton loved the outdoors where the family spent most summer weekends on camping and fishing trips in the mountains. He also enjoyed hunting and was a skilled and successful elk hunter. He always raised a large garden, which supplied ample vegetables for family and friends. He was appreciated for his ability to repair almost anything. For years he served on the property committee of First Presbyterian Church of Boise, remodeling rooms and keeping the big oak doors in working order. He and Mary celebrated their 60th anniversary at their church in 2001. Clayton and his family were also long time members of the Scandinavian Society.
Clayton is survived by his wife of 61 years, Mary J. Campbell, his brothers Frederick Campbell in Spokane, WA; George Campbell (Evelyn) in Upland, CA; and his sister Helen Hopkins in Portland, OR. His surviving children are C. John Campbell, Jr., (Pauline) of Aberdeen, WA, and their children Tonja and Clayton; Marjory Clements (Jim) of Selah, WA, and their children Charlotte Eilers (Steve) and Troy Clements; Beth Carothers (Kelly) of Richland, WA, and their children Ann Carothers Gerlach (Phil), and David and Mark Carothers. He also leaves a daughter-in-law, Ann Campbell, of Richland, WA, and her children John, Neil, and Maribeth Campbell. He leaves one great-grandchild, Grant Eilers, and many nieces and nephews. Preceding him in death are his parents, his sister Shirley Stephens, and his sons Douglas and Gregory Campbell.
A memorial service will be held at First Presbyterian Church, 950 West State Street, Boise, Idaho, on Saturday, November 23, 2002, at 12:00 noon.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to First Presbyterian Church of Boise, the Doolittle Raider Scholarship Fund, c/o Lt. Col. Richard Cole, 48 Blaschke Road, Comfort, TX 78013, or a charity of the donor's choice.