Ernest Ernie A. Campbell

Ernest Arthur Campbell, age 81, passed away on Saturday, September 20, 2014 at the Nathan Adelson Hospice in Las Vegas after an extended battle with cancer. Ernest was born on August 17, 1933 in Lynn, Massachusetts. He decided to enter the Air Force in 1953, where one of his early postings was at Griffiss Air Force Base in Rome, New York where Ernie would meet his future wife, Frances. The couple was wed on May 3, 1958 at St Mary’s Catholic Church. For the next 23 years, Ernie and Fran would raise their family on military bases around the world, including Maine, Germany, Korea, California and New Mexico. While stationed temporarily at Nellis Air Force Base to supervise work on the famed USAF Air Demonstration Squadron (the “Thunderbirds”), Ernie fell in love with Las Vegas and realized it would be the perfect place for him to retire from his Air Force career. The Campbell family settled in Las Vegas on February 1, 1976. It was far from a leisurely retirement, though. In 1977, Ernie joined the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department as a Corrections Officer. In the adverse environment of the Clark County Jail, Ernie’s true character would shine through. He was fair and patient with all, and his easy demeanor and even-handed judgment earned him the respect of both the officers around him and the inmates he was charged with. He rose to the rank of sergeant, and retired in 1995 after nearly 20 years with the Department. He was asked to return to duty in 1996 and gladly accepted, where he served until 2001 in the Classification Department. Ernie will be remembered with love by everyone who was fortunate enough to know him. He never turned his back on a friend’s needs and readily placed his own needs behind him – it was always what “you” needed that mattered most to Ernie. He was a “good” man in every sense of the word, and he will be dearly missed. He is survived by his wife Frances, two sons, Scot (Connie) and Neal (Debra); and beloved granddaughter, Devan. Services will be held on Tuesday, September 30th at 10:00am at Palm S. Jones Mortuary, 1600 S Jones. Blvd, Las Vegas, NV 89146. In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to the Las Vegas Police Protective Association Metro Charities to help survivors of fallen Metropolitan Police Officers. Arrangements under the direction of Palm South Jones Mortuary, Las Vegas, NV.