James Alden Campbell, 86, of Yulee, FL - a pastor and teacher - passed away August 15th at Baptist Medical Center in Jacksonville, FL.
Born July 13, 1927, in New Albany, Ohio, he served in the U. S. Army, 1945-47. In 1951 he graduated from Asbury College in Wilmore, KY, and served as the pastor of the Alliance Church in Canton, OH, 1955-58. He returned to Asbury Seminary, earned a M. Div. degree in 1961, and pastored two other Alliance Churches in New Wilmington, PA (1961-65) and Ambridge, PA (1965-72).
James ("Jim" to many friends he made instantly; "Alden" to his family in Ohio) and his family moved to Clearwater, FL, in 1973 where he began a second career as a social studies teacher. James taught in Clearwater, 1973-74, and then in Clewiston, FL, 1974-91.
James was employed by Plant Industries in Gainesville, FL, in 1991. He married Carrie Ruple in 1992. He retired from teaching in 1991 but continued to work at Publix stores in Gainesville until 2002.
James and Carrie moved to Yulee in 2009 where they are devoted church members and choir singers of Yulee Baptist Church. They had the joy of serving as volunteers at the Baptist Nassau Medical Center from 2009 to 2001.
James is survived by his wife, Carrie; a sister, Jean Campbell Diehl (Aurora, IL); his children Jon Campbell (wife Kathryn) of Boyce, VA, and Janet Campbell Kalajainen (husband Dr. Rodney Kalajainen) of Dewitt, MI; five grandchildren, Matthew (wife Rachel) and Whitney Kalajainen, Jill Kalajainen Smith (husband Chris), Eric and Warren Campbell; and three great-grandchildren, Emma and Mallory Smith and Evan Kalajainen; Carrie's children, John (Wendy) Ruple, Jr. of Tustin, CA, and Cheryl (Ram) Onate of Jacksonville, FL; and Carrie's five grandchildren, Christiana (Matt) Pearce, Erica Onate, Olivia Onate, Frankie Onate, and one great-grandchild, Christian Pearce.
He was preceded in death by his brother, Charles Rolland Campbell, and a grandchild, Graham Robert Campbell.
Friends will be received on Sunday, August 18th from 3:00 - 5:00 pm at Yulee Baptist Church in Yulee, FL.
Services will be held at 11:30 am on Monday, August 19th at Yulee Baptist Church in Yulee, FL.