Obituary of Patrick Gray Camp

Patrick Grey Camp, Sr., age 88, passed away at his home in Cheat Lake on May 29, 2015. Born in Boone County, WV, on May 2, 1927, he was preceded in death by his parents Enoch and Hattie Camp, brother Jack Camp, sisters Nadine Brown, Nellie Vande Linde, and Betty Veevaert, and his wife of 54 years, Sally Camp. Always tenacious in character and mind, Pat’s recall remained vivid of his days as a sixteen-year-old Merchant Marine where he worked under a school-sanctioned program with the Newport News Ship Building & Dry Dock Co. Upon completion of high school in 1944, he joined the U.S. Coast Guard, and then the Army immediately after VJ Day, where he achieved proficiency with the rifle, glider, and parachute with the 11th Airborne Division. A member of the Occupied Forces in Japan beginning in 1945, he later served with the Army Reserves in 1952. His long and prestigious career with the telephone company began in 1947 and spanned every name change from C & P of West Virginia, to Bell Atlantic, to Verizon, and, finally, AT&T. He began by climbing poles and installing phones in Nitro, WV, and advanced to plant manager, area manager, and supervisor in both Wheeling and Morgantown before his retirement in 1985. Pat’s life-long love of hunting, bird dogs, fishing, and storytelling fostered the strong bond with his friends and surviving family members including his brother Robert Camp, Tampa, FL; daughter and primary care-giver Kathy Snyder, Morgantown; son David Camp and wife Karen, Layton, UT; daughter Cindy Karelis, Beverly, WV, and husband David, Cumberland, MD; son Michael Camp and wife Beth Ann, Powell, OH; and son Patrick Grey Camp, Jr. and wife Kathy, Morgantown. Grandchildren surviving him include Jamie Smitley and husband Chris, Morgantown; Shelby Neely and partner James Lenhart, Morgantown; Kristen Hamilton and husband Chris, Chicago, IL; SSG Jessica Bowman and husband Ryan, Tacoma, WA; Meghan Burgos and husband Jason, Layton, UT; Maj. Natalie Karelis and husband CW3 Bruce Ridlen, Spring Lake, NC; Rebekah Karelis and partner Sarel Venter, Wheeling, WV; Vanessa Hayes and husband Justin, Fairmont, WV; Olivia Means and husband John, Elkins, WV; Abigail Camp, Orange, CA; Hannah Camp, Powell, OH; and Hannah, Justice, and Hayden Camp, Morgantown. Pat is also survived by thirteen great-grandchildren. Friends and family will be received at the Hastings Funeral Home, 153 Spruce St., Morgantown, on Tuesday, June 2nd from 11:30 AM – 1:30 PM. At the conclusion of visitation, all are invited to process to Beverly Hills Memorial Gardens in Westover for a committal service along with full military funeral rites. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Trout Unlimited, PO Box 7400, Woolly Bugger, WV 25438 Online condolences may be made at www.hastingsfuneralhome.com