J.D. graduated from Gaston High School. He moved to Odessa in 1950 to attend Odessa College where he lettered in football, basketball, and track. Odessa College is where he met the love of his life, Patricia Denney, who set her sights on the tall, handsome “new boy in town.” They married in 1951 and had two children, Jerry and Randall. In J.D.’s early years, he worked for A.W. Thompson, and later worked for Cameron Iron Works for many years, which offered the family the opportunity of living in Venezuela and Peru. After returning stateside, J.D. ran his own business, Tracon Enterprises for over thirty years. He not only took pride in his business, but truly enjoyed the friends he made during his time in business.
To mourn his passing, he leaves his wife of 66 years, Pat; his son, Jerry Campbell and his wife, Connie of The Woodlands, TX; his daughter-in-law, Tracy Campbell of Odessa; and his grandchildren, Shawn Campbell and wife Sarah of Oklahoma City, OK; Jennifer Walker and husband Brian of Montogmery, TX; Ryan Campbell, Jeremy Campbell and Andrew Campbell, all of Odessa; and his sister, Wanda Wilson and her husband Don of Midlothian, TX as well as his seven great grandchildren and extended family.
J.D. was predeceased by his son, Randall, his parents, Laveta and Emmett Johnson, and his sister Geneva Parker.
A viewing will be held at Hubbard-Kelly Funeral Home on Thursday, March 1, 2018 from 6 to 8 p.m. and the funeral service will be held March 2, 2018 at 10:00 a.m. at Hubbard-Kelly Funeral Home Chapel, with interment at Sunset Memorial Gardens immediately following the service.
