Donald Campbell of Scottsdale, AZ died peacefully in his sleep at the age of 90 on September 2nd, 2025. He is survived by his sons Archibald and Cory, his daughter Marianne, 10 grandchildren, and 12 great-grandchildren. A second-generation native of Phoenix, Don was a veteran of the U.S. Army Reserve, and went on to be plant superintendent of the Phoenix Brick Yard for decades, itself a manufacturing institution in the Valley for almost 100 years.
An avid aviation enthusiast, Don had a fixed-wing single-engine aircraft pilot license, as well as a commercial hot air balloon license. Flying was his passion, and he criss-crossed the U.S. in his beloved V-tailed Beechcraft Bonanza, putting in thousands of hours of flight time. He also flew hot air balloons in various balloon events in Arizona, New Mexico, and Colorado. Don served as secretary, and then president, of the Gila and Salt River Base and Meridian Hot Air Balloon and Airship Ascension Social Society, Inc, A.K.A. the Arizona Balloon Club. The Thunderbird Classic Balloon Race was also managed by him for several years.
