Edwin Atlee McCampbell Jr.

Edwin Atlee McCampbell, Jr., age 86, passed away on November 4, 2008 after a long and blessed life. Atlee earned the respect of many throughout Corpus Christi with his integrity, strong work ethic, and loyal friendship. He endeared many to him with his great sense of humor and a genuine interest and concern that made each person feel special. A simple and humble man, Atlee had a great love of nature and the outdoors, his beloved wife and family, and spending time with his three grandchildren. Born January 24, 1922 to Edwin Atlee McCampbell, Sr. and Mary Elizabeth Corey, Atlee was a native of Corpus Christi with family ties back to its early settlers. He grew up on Dempsey Street in Hillcrest, enjoying hunting and fishing with his father throughout the Coastal Bend and spending time on the family farm. One of the many Americans who volunteered for military service after Pearl Harbor, Atlee joined the Navy and saw the world aboard the Battleship Texas, including action at the battles of Iwo Jima and Okinawa. After returning from the war, he met the love of his life, Dot Price through mutual friends. They married on May 2, 1951 and enjoyed a partnership that was long and lasting, tried and true, and full of deep love and respect for each other. Atlee was a jack of all trades and accomplished whatever he set out to do. He was very gifted mechanically, and loved to investigate how things were made and what made them work. Always tinkering, always exploring, always investigating, always learning, Atlee could make or fix just about anything. His entire professional career was in commercial air conditioning, and he worked on many of the major buildings and refineries in the area. He was valued by his peers and customers for his honesty, technical skills, professionalism and his willingness to teach those around him. Atlee’s interests were wide and varied. He was an accomplished photographer, avid bee keeper and a lover of all things outdoors. Atlee often took wildlife photographs at his South Texas ranch, one of which was published in a birding magazine. Friends and family alike were constantly entertained by Atlee’s great sense of humor and wisdom. It might be that unexpected prank that caught you off guard, or the elaborate jokes that sucked you deeper into what seemed like a plausible story only to end with a surprise punch line. Or perhaps it was the practical advice delivered as one-liners, like “Don’t have your mouth open when you’re looking up at seagulls� or “Never put anything smaller than a football in your ear� or “He who hoots with the owls at night can’t soar with the eagles in the morning.� And always, there was the twinkle in his eye and his deep engrossing laugh that drew you into his heart. Atlee had a quiet pastoral ministry throughout his life to which he devoted additional time upon retirement - he was that friend who was always there when you needed him. Whether serving his church in the building ministry, visiting hospitalized friends, or spending quality time just listening to you, he was always totally present to the needs of family and friends. He wanted no legacy other than to be there for his family and friends. Atlee was predeceased in 2007 by his beloved wife of 56 years, Dot. He is survived by his sons and daughter-in-laws E. A. “Trey� McCampbell, III (Debbie Wingfield) and John Stephen McCampbell (Colleen McDaniel McCampbell) and grandchildren E. Atlee McCampbell, IV, Connor McCampbell and Maura McCampbell ; sister Catherine McCampbell Hamilton; brothers/sister-in-laws Harry and Josie McCampbell and John and Peggy McCampbell; brother-in-law and sister-in-law Mel and Ann Price Miller; 20 nieces and nephews; and a host of good friends. He is preceded in death by his parents; sisters Betty McCampbell Stroud and Margaret McCampbell; brother-in-laws Leonard Price and Albert Hamilton; brother-in-law and sister-in-law Gil and Mary Price Gilbert; niece Karen McCampbell Wells and nephew Patrick Price. The family wishes to thank Dr. Charles Breeling and his devoted and caring staff, the wonderful medical and support staff at Doctor’s Regional Hospital and Holmgreen Center, as well as Reverend Don Tuttle and Reverend Ruth Beal. A memorial service will be held at First Christian Church, at 11:00 am on November 8, 2008. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to First Christian Church Permanent Endowment Fund (3401 Santa Fe, Corpus Christi, Texas 78411) or the Battleship Texas Foundation (908 Town and Country Blvd., Suite 120, Houston, Texas 77024-2208).