Obituary:
Jason McGavin Campbell passed away Wednesday, September 14, 2022, at the age of 51. He was born April 18, 1971, to Ronald and Claudia (Austin) Campbell in Oak Ridge, TN. In his youth, he was active in Indian Guides, Cub Scouts and youth and club soccer. While attending Oak Ridge High School, he ran Cross Country and played three years on the Varsity Soccer Team. He was also active in Boy Scout Troop 224 where he went on major backpacking trips to the San Juan Mountains in Colorado, the Wind River Range in Wyoming, and the Bruce Trail in Canada. Through scouting, he learned to ski and was certified in the National Ski Patrol. He attained the rank of Eagle Scout and was awarded the National Merit and Martin Marietta Scholarships. Jason graduated from Virginia Tech with a degree in Electrical Engineering and later obtained an MBA.
After graduation, Jason married Amy O’Rourke and was commissioned in the United States Air Force, serving proudly for 20 years, and retired with the rank of Major. While serving in the USAF, he and his family moved throughout the United States, making homes in New York, Virginia, South Dakota, Hawaii, Illinois and Arizona. He also served two tours overseas in support of operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. The family moved back to his and Amy’s hometown of Oak Ridge, TN upon his retirement.
Throughout his career, Jason maintained his interest in hiking, backpacking, and running. He completed the St. Louis Marathon and ran 50-mile trail runs at Steamboat Springs, Colorado, Sonoita, Arizona and Chattanooga, Tennessee. Jason has stood at the summits of two “Fourteeners”: Mt. Sneffels (14,200’) in Colorado and Mt. Whitney (14,500’) in California. He has climbed high up the snow-covered slopes of Mt. Rainier in Washington and Gannet Peak in Wyoming. Several times he has hiked, backpacked, or run from the Grand Canyon rim to the Colorado River and back. Jason’s most recent adventure was inflatable kayaking with friends down the Watauga River in early July. There were many more significant, but lesser explorations. He truly loved these adventures.
Jason is survived by his former wife Amy O’Rourke, and their three children, Emily, Phineas and Meghan; parents, Ron and Claudia; brother, Craig and his wife, Deborah, and their two sons, Liam and Asher.
A funeral mass will be held at St. Mary Parish in Oak Ridge, on Tuesday, September 27, 2022, at 11:00a.m. The family will receive friends from 10:00a.m to 11:00a.m. at the church prior to the funeral mass. The funeral mass will be livestreamed on the St. Mary Oak Ridge You Tube channel found at
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCPc8nHx1Gi7KyHRJs1j9XAg. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in memory of Jason to St. Mary Parish, 327 Vermont Avenue, Oak Ridge TN 37830, or to The United Church, Chapel on the Hill, 85 Kentucky Avenue, Oak Ridge TN 37830, or to a charity of one’s choice. Arrangements by Cremation Options, Inc. (865)6WE-CARE (693-2273) www.cremationoptionsinc.com.