Robert Allen Van Camp

Robert Allen Van Camp, age 89, of Grand Blanc, passed away peacefully surrounded by family at his home on Friday, February 18, 2022. Mass of Christian Burial will take place at 10:00am, Friday, February 25, 2022 at the Church of the Holy Family in Grand Blanc. Burial will follow at 2:00 pm at All Saints Cemetery in Waterford. Allen’s family will be present to receive friends at Hill Funeral Home, 11723 S. Saginaw St. in Grand Blanc, from 3:00 pm to 8:00 pm on Thursday. On Thursday evening, family, friends and parish will gather to pray the Rosary at 7:00 pm followed afterward by a Knights of Columbus Service conducted by the KofC Council #6742. On Friday morning, Allen will be taken to church to lie in state from 9:30 am until the time of the Funeral Mass at 10:00 am.

Allen was born July 27, 1932 in Sistersville, West Virginia. Preceding him in death were his parents Ross and Effie Van Camp and eight siblings. Allen and Ruth Ann Moore were united in marriage on June 23, 1967.

Allen's accomplishments began when he enlisted with the U.S. Air Force in 1951. He was honorably discharged in 1963. Allen had an extensive military/civilian career that spanned more than fifty years. A summary of Allen's prolific accomplishments in this area include: Former Member of the Original Elite Joint Strategic Target Planning Staff (JSTPS), a Pentagon Staff created by President J.F. Kennedy to target the Free-Worlds Nuclear Weapons (Single Integrated Operational War Plan (SIOP)); Director of Operations/Simulation Activity-SDC, Santa Monica, California; Committee participant, Joint CONUS (Continental U.S.) Interface of Major Command Centers of the Navy, Marines, US Army and the U.S. Air Force; Director, Systems Engineering Test and Evaluation [SETE]; Team member, development of Command Battle Staffs and Operations Personnel in advanced Military Tactics and Computer Systems Technology on behalf of the U.S. Department of Defense.

Allen’s commitment to organization development also included the establishment of a Top Secret Special Intelligence School for military officers and enlisted personnel. As part of consulting group, Systems Development Corp., Allen was the principal in revising/producing the Top Secret Concept of Operations for the (AWACS) Master Command Ship. In addition to his multiple Top Secret clearances and as testimony to the many military/civilian accolades bestowed on Allen, he was selected by the Department of Defense to serve in Viet Nam as a civilian in Special Intelligence Activities. After his military career, Allen continued working in organizational development in the private sector, bringing his expertise to a number of companies.

Allen is survived by his wife Ruth; children Sherri (Sam) Wilson; Kristy (Richard) Hooper; Cindy Gorham; Michael (Jennifer) Van Camp; Shelly Van Camp; Staffinea (Kenneth) Mraz; nieces Alice Goodrum, Sandy Kirt and nephew Neil Van Camp; and numerous grandchildren.