Vann Marion Campbell Jr.

Known as “Butch” to his family and friends, Vann was born on December 22, 1938, in Houston, Texas, to Geraldine Pollock Campbell and Vann Marion Campbell, Sr. The family lived all over Texas, including Odessa, Houston, and Fort Worth. On February 8, 1964, he married RuthAnn Butler in Kilgore, Texas. In 1969, the couple welcomed their only child, Vann Marion Campbell, III.

If Vann’s life had a theme, it was “For God and Country”. In 1962, Vann joined the U.S. Army, serving with III Armored Corp until his discharge as an E-4 in 1965. Beginning in 1970, he served as a Reserve Officer for the Arlington Police Department, who carried his commission for more than 30 years. His was the first of the numbered IDs assigned to armed reserve officers assisting APD, and he had the distinction of being their longest serving reserve office, retiring after the turn of the century as a lieutenant. During this time, he was employed by American Airlines, which eventually led to his true calling with the Department of Homeland Security. Working for DHS, Vann was involved in the establishment of the Transportation and Safety Administration, from which he retired in 2014 as the Head Inspector in charge of Love Field.

Vann entered into the Masonic Freemasonry, the oldest fraternity in the world, and earned his Master Mason designation in March 1981 at Arlington Lodge 438. With its focus on God, on fatherhood, and on the brotherhood of man, the fraternity was near to his heart. Vann was also a very dedicated and devote member of West Fork Presbyterian Church, where he served as an Elder.

In addition to taking classes at Odessa Junior College and Texas Christian University, Vann attended Arlington State College returning years later to what had since become the University of Texas at Arlington to complete his degree. In 1996, at the age of 58, Vann received his Bachelor of Arts in History.

Vann Marion Campbell, Jr., is preceded in death by his wife of 48 years, RuthAnn Butler Campbell, and by his parents, Vann M. Campbell, Sr., and Geraldine Campbell.

Vann is survived by his son, Vann M. Campbell, III, and daughter-in-law, Laurelle D. Campbell, and by his grandson, Corwin Colin Campbell. He is also survived by his sister, Sue Harris of Hollis, Oklahoma, and by his brother, Gerald Michael Campbell of Huntsville, Texas.

The family will be having an open visitation on Thursday, December 28, 2023, from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at Moore Funeral Home, 1219 N. Davis Drive, Arlington, Texas 76012. Funeral services will be held graveside in Moore Memorial Gardens at 2:00 p.m. on Friday, December 29, 2023.

In lieu of flowers, the family appreciates donations to the Texas Scottish Rite Children's Hospital in Dallas, Texas.