DENNIS CAMPTON

DENNIS CAMPTON Dr. Dennis G. Campton, 82, of Pahrump, passed away Feb. 18, 2014. Dr. Campton was a veteran of the Korean War, having served in the U.S. Navy and as a medical corpsman in the U.S. Marine Corps. After receiving his M.D. from Ohio State University in 1961, he began a 49-year career as an American Board of Family Practice Certified Physician, known for his outstanding work ethic, generosity, and dedication to his patients. After moving to Las Vegas in 1963, he opened his first private practice with partner Dr. Jack Cherry, while having privileges at Southern Nevada Memorial Hospital. From 1973-1978 he was director of the Emergency Room at Humana Sunrise Hospital, and after extensive post-graduate work in alcoholic studies throughout the early 1970's, was appointed medical advisor for Sunrise Hospital's Drug Abuse Center from 1978-1980, the first rehabilitative position of its kind in southern Nevada. In the late 1960's, he began servicing Pahrump as its sole country doctor, juggling practices between Las Vegas and Pahrump for the next 40 years. He opened Pahrump's Family and Emergency Medicine Center in 1988, and upon selling that practice in 1992, was medical director of a 10,000 square foot Family Practice facility at Summerlin's Pueblo Medical Center until 1995. From 1995-2001, he was Medical Director and practicing physician for Pahrump Medical Center, and then continued on in both those roles at the Desert Trails Medical Center from 2001-2004. He was instrumental in getting Pahrump's first hospital, Desert View, built in 2006, in collaboration with managing team Rural Health Group and benefactor Hollis Harris, and was named Nevada Rural Hospital Trustee of the Year in 2011. After retiring in 2000, he was coaxed back into medicine, practicing with the Mountain Valley Physician's Group on Desert View Hospital's campus from 2000-2010. Additionally, throughout his influential and respected medical career, Dr. Campton was medical director at DelMar Gardens and Evergreen Nursing Homes, prison doctor in Pahrump and Indian Springs, an upstanding member of the Clark County Medical Society, and the Del Webb Hotel doctor and friend to many famous actors, musicians, and hotel moguls. He acted as medical preceptor for Physicians' Assistants, as well as mentor for Pahrump's public health nurse, Marilyn Gallivan, and taught and certified EMT's in Pahrump. When Nathan Adelson Hospice first opened in Pahrump in 1999, he was appointed its first medical director, and, being one of the first to understand Hospice's goal of providing patients with dignity, comfort, and compassion, was honored for his efforts at its 10-year anniversary gala in 2009. Dr. Dennis Campton leaves behind a proud legacy of a lifetime devoted to healing, helping, and compassion. He will be sorely missed by his loving family, many friends, hundreds of grateful patients, and the entire Southern Nevada medical community that he dedicated his life to serving. He was preceded in death by his parents, Roy and Sadie Campton-Miles; sisters, Mary Irene, Rose Annette, Dolores (Edward) Seaton, Betty (William) Tromm and Regina (James) Frank; and brother, Robert Campton. He was the beloved husband of Helene Campton; loving father of Christine (Patt Kearly) of Santa Cruz, Calif., Denise (Fred) Anderson of Grady, Ala., Tamara (James) Ruthers of Grove City, Ohio, Dennis (Kay) Campton of Redmond, Wash., and Alisha (Erik) Todd of Boca Raton, Fla.; brother of James (Toni) Campton of Las Vegas, Florence (Alan) Hinklin of Naples, Fla., Kenneth (Carla) Campton of Marion, Ohio, and Mary Pischner of Peoria, Ariz.; devoted grandfather of Kimberly La Chance of Montgomery, Ala., Dale Anderson and Keith Anderson of Grady, Ala., Nicholas Campton of Tucson, Ariz., Carley Campton of Phoenix, Sydney Campton and James Thor Campton of Redmond, Wash., and Jack Todd of Boca Raton; he is also survived by his great-grandchildren, Austin and Aiden LaChance of Montgomery; as well as many beloved nieces and nephews. Please join family and friends at any-or-all of the four upcoming memorials in his honor: 2 p.m. Sunday, April 27, for the Nathan Adelson Hospice butterfly release, Calvada Eye duck pond, E. Calvada Blvd., Pahrump; 10 a.m. Thursday, May 1, for the presentation of a memorial plaque, at Desert View Hospital, 360 S. Lola Lane, Pahrump; 1 p.m. Saturday, May 3, for a celebration of his life, Providence Shopping Center, 7181 N Hualapai Way, Las Vegas (corner of Elkhorn; look for the balloons); 2 p.m. Sunday, May 4, for a celebration of his life, Pahrump Family Mortuary, 5441 Vicki Ann Road, Pahrump. To best honor Dennis' memory, the family requests that any gifts or donations be sent to the Pahrump Building Fund of Nathan Adelson Hospice. To arrange for a donation, please call Hospice at 702-938-3910 or 702-938-3900. Thank you.