Gerald Glenn (Jerry) Campbell, age 83, of Tionesta, PA, passed away on Saturday, February, 14, 2015 at the Golden Living Center, Oil City. He was born on September 16, 1931 in Aliquippa, PA, the son of the late John M. and Edith I. (Shoup) Campbell.
Jerry was a 1949 graduate of Tionesta High School where he played all varsity sports. In his senior year, he was a starter on the Upper Allegheny Valley League Championship basketball team. He graduated in 1955 from Slippery Rock College, where he played baseball, soccer and lettered in swimming. He obtained his degree in Health Education.
In July of 1955, he enlisted in the U.S. Army, serving a tour of Korea and was honorably discharged in 1957. He returned to Tionesta, to teach at West Forest for the next thirty one years. He coached the West Forest High School baseball, basketball, track and the Marine Physical Fitness Team.
He coached five UAVL baseball championship teams (1960,’66,’79,’85 and ’86) with the 1979 team moving on to win the PIAA, District 10, Double AA Championship. This was West Forest’s first and only District 10 Championship. Jerry was very proud of his team’s accomplishments and the work he did with this team’s pitching ace, John Boyles, who was drafted by the New York Mets and played AA baseball for the Cincinnati Reds. In turn, the baseball field at the new West Forest Area High School was named after him. He also played in the Hayrake Baseball League and other local baseball teams.
In 1975 he led the West Forest High School basketball team to the UAVL championship, which ironically was the first championship since he played on the 1949 team for the then Tionesta High School.
He enjoyed the annual West Forest Alumni basketball games and parties, and all of the various reunions, when the “coach and his teams” would spend hours talking about their experiences.
He loved hunting, fishing, golf, enjoyed fur trapping and trap shooting, gardening, and spending hours in the woodlands of his farm.
In June of 1982, he married Gay Marino (Middlestead) Campbell who survives. He is survived by two daughters, Susan J. Decker of Tionesta and Jean E. Campbell of Erie, PA.
Three step children, Laura Myers and her husband Gary of Grand Valley, PA. Curt Marino and his wife Carol, and Katherine Metzler and her husband William, all of Tionesta, Six grandchildren, eight great-grandchildren and several nieces and nephews.
In addition to his parents he was preceded in death by two brothers, Ronald of Texas, Warren of Erie, a sister Helen of Oregon, and a grandson Jesse of Erie.
He was the last surviving member of his immediate family.
There will be no public visitation. All services held will be private. Arrangements are under the direction of the Norman J. Wimer Funeral Home of Tionesta. Memorial contributions may be made to the charity of one’s choice.
Condolences may be sent by email to [email protected].
