Obituary of Charles Gregory Van Camp

C. Gregory Van Camp, 86, of South Hills, Morgantown died Wednesday, June 4, 2014 at his home. He was born January 25, 1928 in Wheeling, WV son of the late C. Loring and Ruth (Heckert) Van Camp. Following graduation from Triadelphia High School, Wheeling, he served in the U. S. Army in General Douglas MacArthur’s headquarters in Tokyo. He earned two degrees from West Virginia University; AB in Speech and MSJ from the School of Journalism and additional post graduate credit from Stanford University. During his 40 year professional career in television broadcasting and public relations, Mr. Van Camp was employed by WWVA and WTRF-TV, Wheeling, WV, and WTAE-TV, Pittsburgh, PA. He founded and managed WWVU-TV, Morgantown, (now WNPB-TV) and was director of Radio & Television Services for West Virginia University, and Associate Professor of Journalism. Following retirement in 1991, he served the Morgantown Area Chamber of Commerce as program manager of Vision 2000/2020. Throughout his professional life, he was active with a variety of community and service organizations including Rotary Club of Morgantown and Governor for Rotary District 7530; boards of the West Virginia Educational Broadcasting Authority, the Public Broadcasting Service, the Southern Educational Communications Association and Citizens Bank of Morgantown. He was a long-time member of the First Presbyterian Church, Morgantown, with service as elder, deacon, and chair of the Long-Range Planning Task Force. In 1985 he served as vice-chair of the City of Morgantown’s Bicentennial. He was a member of WVU’s Mountain and Golden Key National Honor Society. Mr. Van Camp received several awards and recognitions including the Order of Vandalia from West Virginia University, Distinguished West Virginian from Governor Joe Manchin, Earl L. Core Award from the Morgantown Area Chamber of Commerce, WVU Student Affairs Outstanding Achievement Award, West Virginia Broadcaster’s Hall of Fame, outstanding West Virginian from the WV Chapter of the Public Relations Society of America, and received the P.I. Reed Achievement Award from the Journalism Alumni Association. Throughout his life, Mr. Van Camp enjoyed travel, camping, photography, and production of documentary videos. He and his wife visited 49 of the 50 states and 11 foreign countries. He is survived by his wife of 61 years, Deanie Fleming Van Camp; two sons and spouses, Scott Gregory Van Camp and Carolyn Knight Sigman of Gaithersburg, MD; and Kirk Stephens and Joyce Matheny Van Camp of Moyock, NC; and two grandsons Zachary Van Camp of Alexandria, VA, and Troy Van Camp of Moyock, NC; a sister Mary Ellen Robinson of Wheeling, WV; and a brother-in-law and spouse Zack and Donna Fleming of Leetown, WV. In accordance with Greg’s wishes, cremation services have been provided by Hastings Funeral Home. Friends and family will be received Saturday, June 14th at the First Presbyterian Church, 456 Spruce Street, Morgantown, from 1 PM until the time of the service at 3 PM with the Reverend John Sonnenday officiating. In lieu of flowers, friends are requested to make contributions in Greg’s memory to Rotary Club of Morgantown Foundation, PO Box 411, Morgantown, WV 26507. Hastings Funeral Home, Morgantown is handling arrangements. Send condolences online at www.hastingsfuneralhome.com.