Col. William Lambert Campen, USAF (Ret.) found his eternal peace on May 16, 2025 where he was welcomed into the arms of our Lord and his beloved wife Margaret. He was 89 years old.
The youngest of 10 children, Bill was a farm boy from Monticello, MO. He met Margaret Ashburn, a country girl from Bonne Terre, MO on a blind date in St. Louis in 1962. They married in April 1963 and started a family. They raised three daughters Natalie, Ellen and Katie. Together, they built a life full of love, laughter, bad puns, and strong values.
Bill spent 35 years proudly serving our nation in the United States Air Force, Reserves and Missouri Air National Guard. He enlisted in the Air Force in December 1955 and his active duty service included a stint as a drill instructor at Lackland AFB, San Antonio, Texas. Bill achieved the rank of Colonel in 1986 and retired in December 1990.
During his career, Bill was responsible for training radar technicians across the country and around the world. He was the Director of Operations for the 157th Tactical Air Control Group Headquartered at Jefferson Barracks, MO. In that role, he commanded three Tactical Control Squadrons, seven Tactical Control Flights in six states.Those units deployed to Denmark, Norway, Scotland and Spain to control Air Force fighter jets and refueling tankers during training exercises His job was to ensure the readiness of those units.
Bill’s military colleagues became cherished friends and he enjoyed visiting with them and reminiscing about trips overseas and adventures during annual training they affectionately called “summer camp.” After retirement, Bill spent time at Jefferson Barracks helping with a project to research and preserve the history of JB.
Bill’s service did not stop with the military. He was an active member of St. Luke’s United Methodist Church in South St. Louis County for decades. Bill was the chief cook and organizer for the monthly United Methodist Men’s breakfast. He often enlisted his daughters to help with set up and always invited men to come enjoy the breakfast, especially those who were not members of the church. After he and Margaret moved to Moscow Mills, MO in 2006 Bill helped run the church community food pantry, using his military leadership and organizational skills to grow the ministry. For many years, he coached girl’s softball at St. Francis of Assisi while his youngest daughter Katie played on the team.
Bill Campen was born in Monticello, MO in 1935, the youngest of Carl and Leona Campen’s 10 children. Like most rural families during the depression, everyone worked to raise crops and livestock to feed the family. It was not an easy life, but it was a good life.
Bill was preceded in death by his wife of nearly 54 years Margaret Anne (Ashburn) Campen, his parents, and nine siblings, as well as several nieces and nephews.
He is survived by daughters Natalie Campen (Vincent Creel), Ellen Campen, Kathleen Christ (Matthew), grandchildren Jed Creel, Christina Christ, Faith Christ, six great grandchildren and with numerous nieces and nephews.
Services: Funeral at Kutis South County Chapel 5255 Lemay Ferry Road Friday, May 23, 2025, at 11am. Interment Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery. Visitation Thursday 5-7pm. Memorial contributions to Wreaths Across America, appreciated.