Past President Clan Campbell Society (United States of America), Past Vice-President Clan Campbell Society (United States of America), Past Board Member Clan Campbell Society (United States of America), CDR, US Navy Ret.
William Angus Steadley-Campbell was born October 24, 1923 to John F. and Sarah Jeanette Steedley in Rollins Hospital, in Jacksonville, Florida. Known by all as "Bill Steadley" and later as "Bill Steadley-Campbell".
He is survived by his three sons, CDR. Joel F. Steadley, (USN-Retired), Daniel M. Steadley and Hunter C. Steadley and his wife Katherine; a special daughter, CDR Marianne Steadley (USN – Retired), four grandchildren; Dr. Katherine A. Steadley, DVM; Hunter W. Steadley, Morgan A.V. Steadley and Cameron O. Steadley, and six great grandchildren.
He is preceded in death by his wife of 62 years, Winifred Melton Steadley-Campbell and his parents, John and Sarah, his brother, John and his son, William.
A native Floridian, he graduated from Leon High School in Tallahassee, Florida in 1941 and immediately entered into the US Merchant Marine Academy as member of one of the first classes to attend this newly established academy. Graduating in 1944, he was commissioned as an Ensign in the United States Navy. This began a long career in the US Navy.
During World War II, he served in the Pacific Theater where he participated in battles of Saipan, Guam, Tinian, Peleliu, Iwo Jima, and Okinawa while serving as Assistant Engineering Officer on USS SAMARITAN (AH-10). He joined the Atlantic Fleet in 1947 as Operations Officer aboard USS MASSEY (DD-778). He then took command of USS VERDIN (AMS-38), homeported in Charleston, SC, in 1948. While stationed in Charleston, he met his future wife. On December 20, 1949 he married Winifred Lee Melton at the First Scots Presbyterian Church, Charleston South Carolina.
In 1951, he reported to the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, California. In 1954, he served aboard USS MACON (CA-132) as Assistant Gunnery Officer and Senior Watch Officer. He then reported to USS NOA (DD-841) as Executive Officer and Navigator. His next duty station was the Mine Defense Laboratory, Panama City, Florida serving from 1957-1959. He took command of Mine Division 93 homeported in Long Beach California in April 1959 and served there until October 1961. In 1961, he and his family moved to Bad Godesberg, West Germany, where he was the Principal Advisor to the Federal Germany Navy for mine warfare, surface warfare and engineering. At the conclusion of this tour, he was awarded the Joint Meritorious Service medal.
In 1964, he retired from active duty and began working for Westinghouse International. In 1965, the family moved to Severna Park, Maryland where he worked for BUSHIPS/NAVSEA as a program manager, including serving as the Chair of a five nation NATO project related to mine countermeasures.
Wini and Bill retired to Walton County, Florida in 1986. A 4th generation Floridian, Bill is descended from the early Scottish settlers in Walton County. His great grandfather was Daniel Douglass Campbell, his grandfather was Angus L. Campbell and his mother was Sarah Jeanette Campbell Steadley. His fondest childhood memories were of the times spent at his grandfather Angus L. Campbell's farm in Euchee Valley, FL.
Bill was an ordained elder in the Presbyterian Church and was a member of the First Presbyterian Church in DeFuniak Springs. At various times, he served as Moderator, Treasurer, Chair of Council, Chair of Mission Funding in the Presbytery of Florida. He also chaired a group to restore the old Eucheeanna school house. He served as President on the board of Walton County Historical Society. In Maryland, he was President of the Anne Arundel County Retired Officers Association and President of the Kensington Community Association. He also served as Area Commissioner for the Three Rivers District for the Boy Scouts of America. He was President of the Clan Campbell Society (United States of America) 1981-1984. He was a 60 plus year mason, a member of Scottish Rite, Panama City, FL; York Rite #1, Charleston, South Carolina; Omar Shrine Temple, Charleston, South Carolina; Hadji Shrine, Pensacola, Florida; and the Walton County Shrine Club, Walton County, Florida.
Funeral Service was held 11:00 AM, Saturday, February 25, 2023 at First Presbyterian Church in DeFuniak Springs, Florida.
Burial was in the family plot at Euchee Valley Presbyterian Church Cemetery, with Military Honors by the United States Navy and Masonic Rites at graveside.