PORT ANGELES — The Port Angeles community mourns the loss of Orville Campbell, former Port Angeles City Council member and deputy mayor, a tireless civic leader and, by all accounts, a true gentleman.
Campbell, 97, died on Sunday due to complications from the COVID-19 virus.
A burial service will be conducted at Ocean View Cemetery at 11 a.m. Tuesday with a memorial ceremony following at noon at the Vern Burton Community Center, 308 E. Fourth St., Port Angeles.
“He was a stand-up guy in our community,” said Edna Petersen, business leader and former Port Angeles City Council member.
“The biggest thing about Orville was that he was one of the truest gentlemen I’ve ever been around,” she said.
”He was kind. He was caring. He was just a wonderful gentleman,” Petersen said.
A “classy guy” is how John Brewer, former Peninsula Daily News publisher, described Campbell.
He was “one of the classiest guys in Port Angeles, an impeccable manner,” Brewer said. “He cared about the community and contributed both as a public servant and business leader.”
Orville Wright Campbell was born Dec. 27, 1925, in Ocean Falls, B.C., but he grew up in Port Townsend, graduating from Port Townsend High School in 1944. After graduation, he served in the Army Air Corp. for three years during World War II.
Following his military service, Campbell attended Washington State University where he earned a degree in electrical engineering, taking those skills to mill companies, including Crown Zellerbach in Port Angeles.
While working for Crown Zellerbach, Campbell was in a management position and worked with the state and federal representatives on the Elwha Act and continued to work in the ’90s that ultimately led to the removal of the Elwha River dams.
Following retirement in about 1994, Campbell served on the Port Angeles Planning Commission. He elected to the Port Angeles City Council and served from 1996 to 2003; he was deputy mayor from 2002-2003.
“I was very sad to hear about the passing of Orville,” Port Angeles City Manager Nathan West said.
“Throughout my time in the city, I was very fortunate to see the dedication Orville demonstrated to the Port Angeles community. He was present for every public meeting and was engaged on every topic of community importance.
“As a member of the public, planning commission and city council, Orville helped establish the foundations of the city’s Comprehensive Plan and Shoreline Master Program,” West said. “He was an advocate for the success of our local businesses and represented the city on the Clallam County Opportunity Fund Board.
West noted that among Campbell’s accomplishments was his advocacy of the immediate cleanup of the Rayonier mill site.
Rayonier closed its pulp mill in 1997 after 67 years on the Port Angeles waterfront, leaving behind a highly contaminated area. Campbell served as chairman of Harbor-Works Public Development Agency, formed in 2008 with $1.3 million in seed-money loans from the city of Port Angeles and Port of Port Angeles to expedite the environmental cleanup of the property and kick start its redevelopment. Rayoner eventually bowed out of cooperating with the PDA.
Campbell served on several community boards throughout the years. In 2000, he co-founded of the North Olympic Land Trust, in 2010, he served on the boards of the Port Angeles Business Association and Fiero Marine Life Center.
A cause close to Campbell was First Step Family Life Center, a nonprofit that offers maternity support and parenting education classes, where he served on the board for 25 years.
“He got things done,” said Venita “Nita” Lynn, who retired in 2022 as First Step’s executive director.
“He was so well-read and able to synthesize the information he got. He was not motivated by anything political, conservative or liberal. He was willing to share the truth as he saw it. He just wanted our community to work well for all,” Lynn said.
“He was a true gentleman, an older and wise gentleman,” Lynn said. “He was not afraid to tell the truth or ask the hard questions.”
Often, Campbell would say that perhaps he should get off the board so that “new blood” could come in “and we would say we need you, Orville,” Lynn said.
Said Corey Delikat, Port Angeles Parks and Recreation director: “Orville was a huge advocate for First Step.
”It was a true pleasure to get to work with him and hear him speak so passionately about that nonprofit First Step and his support for the community.”
In 2005 Campbell received the Clallam County Economic Development Council Leader Award. In 2007, he was the recipient of the Clallam County Community Service Award.
“Orville was the epitome of the kind of leadership we’d all like to aspire to,” said Forks City Attorney Rod Fleck, past president of the EDC.
In his spare time, Campbell enjoyed sailing, working on machine shop projects, woodworking, and taking frequent walks along the Olympic Discovery Trail.
Campbell is survived by his wife, Phyllis; sons James and John; brothers Lawrence, William and Robert James; four grandchildren; and one great-grandchild.
Instead of flowers, Campbell’s family is asking that donations be sent to the First Step Family Support Center, P.O. Box 249, Port Angeles, WA 98362. Letters of condolence can be sent to City Manager Nathan West at 321 E. Fifth St., Port Angeles, WA 98362.
“He will be greatly missed by his family and the Port Angeles community that he loved so much,” said James Campbell of his father.
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Reporter Ken Park can be reached at kpark@peninsuladailynews.com
