Dr. Donald Ross Campbell

Dr. Donald Ross Campbell, 75, of Signal Mountain, died on Friday, November 2, 2012.

A native of Albuquerque, New Mexico, Dr. Campbell received a Bachelor of Science degree from the United States Naval Academy in 1959. He served proudly in the Navy from 1959 until 1963, which service included a notable confrontation with a Soviet ship carrying nuclear warheads during the Cuban Missile Crisis. Following his service in the military, Dr. Campbell entered medical school at the University of Florida and received a Doctor of Medicine Degree in 1967. After completing his medical internship in Charlotte, North Carolina, Dr. Campbell served as a medical missionary for Wycliffe Bible Translators in Bolivia during 1968 and 1969. It was there that he decided to become a psychiatrist, and, when he returned to the United States, he completed a Residency and Fellowship in Adult and Child Psychiatry at the University of Florida from 1969 to 1973.

Dr. Campbell moved with his wife, Patricia, and their children to Signal Mountain 39 years ago. From 1973 until 1996, Dr. Campbell was a practicing child and adolescent psychiatrist, during which time he served as a Medical Director at Valley Psychiatric Hospital, founded Southeastern Counseling Center, and was Director of Pediatric Training in Child Psychiatry for the University of Tennessee College of Medicine. Providing nurture, counsel and advice to parents, children and adolescents, with the goals of supporting and strengthening families, were his calling and ministry.

Following his retirement from the practice of medicine in 1997, Dr. Campbell continued writing and lecturing, and became passionately involved as a seminar leader and board member for the Ministering to Ministers foundation. There, he devoted countless hours to coaching, counseling and encouraging pastors and their families in dealing with the challenging issues faced by those engaged in vocational ministry.

Throughout his career, Dr. Campbell was a prolific writer and lecturer on the topic of parenting children. During his career, he published a total of fifteen books, including the internationally acclaimed bestseller, How to Really Love Your Child, which sold over two million copies and has been translated into more than forty languages. His book, How to Really Love Your Teenager, received the Christian Publishers’ Gold Medallion Award. More recently, he co-authored with Gary Chapman, the popular book, Five Love Languages of Children. In addition to his writing, Dr. Campbell has lectured on parenting not only in the United States, but in countries throughout the world.

Dr. Campbell was an avid traveler, having visited six of the seven continents. He was an instrument-rated pilot, and loved to fly his twin engine airplane on long trips back to his native New Mexico. With a passion for the outdoors, he hiked trails and mountains throughout the world, and was indulging that passion on the day that he left this world to be with the Lord.

Dr. Campbell was predeceased by his loving wife of 47 years, Patricia Ann Campbell, with whom he is now reunited. He is survived by four children: Carey Steger and husband, Chris; Cathy Campbell; David Campbell and wife, Rebekah; and Dale Campbell and wife, Kisha. He is also survived by seven grandchildren: Cami Steger; Coen, Rainey, August, Blaine, Mia Blaise and Hampton Campbell; one sister, Sue Thomas; and two brothers, Ray Campbell and wife, Virginia, and Monte Campbell and wife, Beth.

Funeral services will be held at noon on Wednesday, November 7 at Signal Mountain Baptist Church with Dr. David Myers officiating. Burial will be at the National Cemetery immediately following.

The family will receive friends from 6-8 p.m. on Tuesday at the North Chapel of the Chattanooga Funeral Home.

The family encourages donations, in memory of Dr. Campbell, to Ministering to Ministers Foundation, Inc., 510 Branchway Road, North Chesterfield, VA 23236.

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Arrangements are by Chattanooga Funeral Home Crematory and Florist, North Chapel, 5401 Hwy 153, Hixson, TN, 37343. Please share your thoughts and Memories at www.chattanooganorthchapel.com.