MSHS remembers Campbell

A Marion Senior High School student who died Saturday morning in a single-vehicle wreck was remembered this week by his principal as “a fine young man” who “was never in trouble.”

MSHS Principal Mike Davidson said Tuesday there is nothing negative he could say about Robert Anthony Campbell, who was a 17-year-old junior.

“This was such a tragedy,” Davidson said.

Virginia State Police spokesman Sgt. Michael Conroy said Campbell’s 1995 Nissan Altima ran off the left shoulder of state Route 645, Wassum Valley Road, .1 mile south of Route 658, Spring Valley Road, and overturned down an embankment around 8:50 a.m.

Campbell was wearing a seatbelt, Conroy said.

Trooper J.E. Ferland responded to the scene and is handling the investigation, according to Conroy. A dispatcher said Ferland is on special assignment this week.

Conroy said Ferland’s incident report showed as driver’s actions “failure to maintain proper control.”

Campbell’s obituary said he was born in Smyth County and attended Wassum Valley Baptist Church.

Campbell leaves his parents, Robert Earl Campbell and Rebecca Lynn Campbell, a sister,

Jennifer Campbell, and a brother, Timothy Campbell. and his grandparents, Joe and Patricia Campbell of Marion, Peggy Sword of Marion and James Sword of Saltville.

Asked about students who might like to offer words of remembrance for a story about Campbell, Davidson all of those close to Campbell were out of school Tuesday, the day of his funeral at Bradley’s Funeral Home, Marion.

“All of the students I saw at the visitation last night are not in the building today,” Davidson said.

Campbell was buried in Wassum Valley Baptist Church Cemetery following the 11 a.m. funeral, according to his obituary.

Davidson said Campbell was involved in the school’s chapter of Future Farmers of America, “a close-knit group,” and was taking both agriculture and horticulture classes.

Davidson said no formal memorial activity for Campbell is planned at the school because “the parents have not asked for that,” but students have asked to paint the “spirit rock” on the school grounds in his memory, and Tuesday’s moment of silence was dedicated to Campbell.

“Our thinking is that as quickly as we can get back to normal, that’s best for the students,” Campbell said.

Davidson said extra counselors are in the building, and teachers have been briefed on what to look for in students who may need help coping.

dkegley@wythenews.com