Ronald Eugene Campbell was born in Columbia, South Carolina but lived in Aiken until his teen years. The family moved back to Columbia where Ronnie attended Eau Claire High School. He always dreamed of being a pilot and worked hard to make that dream a reality by cleaning and fueling planes at Owens Field in exchange for stick time. He ultimately became one of the youngest pilots in SC to solo at the age of 16. Ron joined the S.C. Air National Guard as an aircraft mechanic (his poor eyesight precluded him from a military pilot slot). Shortly after marrying, he was deployed to Spain during the Berlin Wall Crisis, returning to the states in 1962.
"High Flight"
Oh! I have slipped the surly bonds of Earth
And danced the skies on laughter-silvered wings;
Sunward I've climbed, and joined the tumbling mirth
of sun-split clouds, — and done a hundred things
You have not dreamed of — wheeled and soared and swung
High in the sunlit silence. Hov'ring there,
I've chased the shouting wind along, and flung
My eager craft through footless halls of air....
Up, up the long, delirious, burning blue
I've topped the wind-swept heights with easy grace.
Where never lark, or even eagle flew —
And, while with silent lifting mind I have trod
The high untrespassed sanctity of space,
- Put out my hand, and touched the face of God.
"High Flight"
Oh! I have slipped the surly bonds of Earth
And danced the skies on laughter-silvered wings;
Sunward I've climbed, and joined the tumbling mirth
of sun-split clouds, — and done a hundred things
You have not dreamed of — wheeled and soared and swung
High in the sunlit silence. Hov'ring there,
I've chased the shouting wind along, and flung
My eager craft through footless halls of air....
Up, up the long, delirious, burning blue
I've topped the wind-swept heights with easy grace.
Where never lark, or even eagle flew —
And, while with silent lifting mind I have trod
The high untrespassed sanctity of space,
- Put out my hand, and touched the face of God.
Ronald Eugene Campbell was born in Columbia, South Carolina but lived in Aiken until his teen years. The family moved back to Columbia where Ronnie attended Eau Claire High School. He always dreamed of being a pilot and worked hard to make that dream a reality by cleaning and fueling planes at Owens Field in exchange for stick time. He ultimately became one of the youngest pilots in SC to solo at the age of 16. Ron joined the S.C. Air National Guard as an aircraft mechanic (his poor eyesight precluded him from a military pilot slot). Shortly after marrying, he was deployed to Spain during the Berlin Wall Crisis, returning to the states in 1962.
"High Flight"
Oh! I have slipped the surly bonds of Earth
And danced the skies on laughter-silvered wings;
Sunward I've climbed, and joined the tumbling mirth
of sun-split clouds, — and done a hundred things
You have not dreamed of — wheeled and soared and swung
High in the sunlit silence. Hov'ring there,
I've chased the shouting wind along, and flung
My eager craft through footless halls of air....
Up, up the long, delirious, burning blue
I've topped the wind-swept heights with easy grace.
Where never lark, or even eagle flew —
And, while with silent lifting mind I have trod
The high untrespassed sanctity of space,
- Put out my hand, and touched the face of God.
"High Flight"
Oh! I have slipped the surly bonds of Earth
And danced the skies on laughter-silvered wings;
Sunward I've climbed, and joined the tumbling mirth
of sun-split clouds, — and done a hundred things
You have not dreamed of — wheeled and soared and swung
High in the sunlit silence. Hov'ring there,
I've chased the shouting wind along, and flung
My eager craft through footless halls of air....
Up, up the long, delirious, burning blue
I've topped the wind-swept heights with easy grace.
Where never lark, or even eagle flew —
And, while with silent lifting mind I have trod
The high untrespassed sanctity of space,
- Put out my hand, and touched the face of God.
Inscription
BELOVED HUSBAND AND FATHER
Gravesite Details
Special, heartfelt thanks to contributor RosalieAnn for sponsoring my father's memorial.
