Obituary: Rex Campbell

Rex Kendall Campbell of Grand Prairie, award-winning Texas Baptist photographer and videographer, died Jan. 10. He was 64. He was born Feb. 20, 1956, to George and Novella Campbell in Dallas. He grew up in Grand Prairie and graduated from Grand Prairie High School in 1974. He joined the U.S. Army in 1975 and became a chaplain’s assistant. Following his discharge from the Army, he graduated from Elkins Institute. For two decades, he served with the Baptist General Convention of Texas, telling missions stories as a photographer and videographer. Assignments led him to work alongside Texas Baptist Men, traveling to disaster areas covering relief ministries after hurricanes, floods and tornadoes. After retirement, he volunteered briefly with the TBM laundry/shower unit, helping victims of disasters with basic needs. He became an FAA-licensed drone pilot to add yet another tool to his storytelling skillset and freelanced for numerous special projects. He traveled as a member of the Singing Men of North Central Texas to Spain, Brazil and Ukraine. Throughout his travels, he enjoyed discovering local restaurants and introducing friends to the best ones he found. During high school, his first job was at Six Flags Over Texas. After retirement, he returned to Six Flags as a security officer, dispatcher, and finally working on the railroad. He had certified as a fireman on the train and was training to be an engineer. He joined the Grand Prairie Police Department’s Citizens on Patrol program in 2016 and enjoyed being in the community with his ride-out partners. He grew up in Indian Hills Baptist Church in Grand Prairie, met his future wife Beth there and raised his son Nathan at that church. Through the years, he sang in quartets and choir, worked as a sound technician and Sunday School teacher, participated in mission trips, and was ordained as a deacon. In 2016, the Campbells joined First Baptist Church in Grand Prairie where he was a deacon and a choir member. He was preceded in death by his parents and by a brother, George Keith Campbell. He is survived by his wife of 44 years, Elizabeth Winkleman Campbell; son Nathan and his wife Marcie; three grandchildren; and brother Donald and his wife Darla, along with numerous nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews. A celebration of life service will be held at 10 a.m. on March 1 at First Baptist Church in Grand Prairie. Social distancing and masks are required. To view the service on the church’s YouTube channel, click here. A private burial will be held at DFW National Cemetery. Memorial gifts can be made to the WMU Foundation’s Touch Tomorrow Today Endowment for Texas; to the Singing Men of North Central Texas, c/o Darrel Thompson, 2622 Timber Ridge Dr., Temple, TX 76502; or to First Baptist Church in Grand Prairie, 950 Mayfield Rd., Grand Prairie, TX 75052.