Honorable Ross W. Campbell Jr.
Cullum: 14902
Class: '45
Cadet Company: C2
Date of Birth: February 14, 1923
Date of Death: April 6, 2017 - View or Post a Eulogy
Judge Ross W. Campbell passed away at the age of 94 on Thursday, April
6, 2017, in Ann Arbor, Michigan. He expressly asked to have his
appreciation given to the good people of Washtenaw County for placing
your trust in him to serve as a probate and circuit judge for 25 years.
He was dedicated to protecting the community and seeing that justice
was served honorably. His campaign slogan “Ross Campbell Cares”
epitomized his dedication in helping others in his professional and
personal life. Of special concern to him were the distressed children
and those with mental illness in our community. His devotion to helping
and serving others, and doing what is right, are the themes seen in his
actions through his entire life.
People who knew him well often said they admired his intellect,
compassion, humor, and his big welcoming smile. His activities and
interests spanned a wide range of personal interests, including writing
songs and mystery short stories. He loved reading everything from the
stories of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle to human evolution, archeology, his
family’s ancestry, medicine, and space-time (which he never could
really grasp!). His extensive photo slide show collection of the
history of the entire Washtenaw County area is placed with the
Washtenaw County Historical Society.
After becoming an Eagle Scout in Detroit, he earned through competitive
examination dual congressional appointments to the U.S. Military
Academy and the U.S. Naval Academy. “For 24 hours, I was the happiest
guy in the world to be offered such a choice at age 18. I quickly chose
the U.S. Army because I preferred to have my feet on the ground!” From
the class of ’45 he served in the Army of Occupation in both Germany
and Italy. He felt he made a difference in helping several ‘displaced
persons’ to escape from the brutal Russian occupied areas in post-war
Germany. West Point’s motto “Duty, Honor, Country” resonated in his
thoughts and principles. For him, our showing love and compassion in
action are the noblest of our human qualities and make life worth
living.
Upon graduating from the University of Michigan Law School in 1955, he
practiced law in Ann Arbor and raised his family here with his beloved
wife Jean and his sons Chris and Charles. In 1967, he was elected as a
Judge of Probate for Washtenaw County, and then was appointed to the
Washtenaw Circuit Court Bench by Governor Bill Milliken in 1969. He was
then re-elected to successive judicial terms until his retirement in
1992.
In his judicial capacity, he helped reform the way people with mental
illness are treated in the criminal justice system, both locally and in
several commissions for Michigan Department of Mental Health. Up until
his tenure began in the late ‘60’s, it was standard practice in
Washtenaw County for mentally ill people to be shackled together with
hardcore criminals when they were brought to court. He began the now
general practice of traveling with his court staff to mental health
facilities for their legal hearings. “It was the humane approach and
the right thing to do. It gave them more dignity, privacy, and safety.”
Judge Campbell authored eight published articles on juvenile law,
children’s rights, and medical malpractice.
Ross’ spiritual interests led him to study and be ordained to the
Episcopal Diaconate in 1981, and then the Episcopal Priesthood in 1987.
He served as an assistant minister at St. Clare’s of Assisi Episcopal
Church in Ann Arbor, and established the Episcopal Hospital Chaplaincy
Program for St. Joes Mercy Hospital, the VA Hospital, and the U of M
Hospital. His personal service to the community extended further
through his activities in Ann Arbor’s Kiwanis, Breakfast Optimist,
Masonry, the A2 PTO, and as a Scouting Commissioner.
His first wife Jean passed away in 1980 after 24 years of marriage, and
in 1983 he married Beverly Taylor, who passed away this past September
2016. He felt completely blessed to be married to the two wonderful
women he loved and adored. He is survived by his two sons Chris and
Charles and their wives, and his grandchildren Lauren and Jared. He
also wholly embraced Beverly’s family as a step-father and grandfather,
whom he dearly loved: Dawn Boland, Brad and Craig Burton, and the many
grandchildren and great grandchildren in their family.
A memorial gathering will be held on Saturday, April 22nd from 3:00 to
5:30 PM in the Hanson Room at the Glacier Hills Manor senior residence,
located at 1200 Earhart Rd. Ann Arbor, MI. 48105. If you can, bring a
card with an amusing anecdote we can all share and enjoy together. He
would love it.
Our family expresses our special appreciation to his friends and
colleagues; you meant so very much to him and he treasured your
friendships. In lieu of flowers, may we suggest contributing to local
charities that directly help those in need, and the Ann Arbor Thrift
Shop where Beverly volunteered for many years.
