Wilson (Bill) Camp (Birth – 22 April 1913)

Wilson (Bill) Camp, former resident of Malad, Idaho, died at the Tarzana Medical Center on March 17, 1988 of cancer. He fought a valiant battle for 14 months.

He was born in Malad, Idaho, April 22, 1913, to Leo M. Camp and Eunice Dillie Camp. He attended elementary school in St. John until the age of 13 when his mother passed away leaving 5 little boys. He went to live in San Francisco, California with an aunt where he continued his education. During his high school years he returned to St. John where he graduated from high school. During his high school years, he was always performing in school plays.

He spent one year in the Royal Canadian Air Force in Canada, where he met his lovely life long companion; He married her in the fall of 1941; Miss Dorothy Hall. They returned to San Francisco where he worked in the shipyards for 5 years, doing his share towards the war effort. Later he went into the Retail Clerks Business where he worked until his retirement. He had a lovely voice and was called upon to sing at many activities. His wife also had a beautiful voice, and they sang together with her accompanying them on the piano. Throughout his life, he wrote poetry and short stores; having many of them published. While he was in the hospital during many of his illnesses, he wrote a poem to the nurses, and it was published in the hospital newsletter. All the nurses fought to care for him as he was such a delightful, uncomplaining patient, making jokes as ill as he was.

The family moved to So. California to be nearer the entertainment element, and it paid off as their daughter Colleen got into movies and television.

In 1981 he and his wife traveled to Europe for 6 weeks while their daughter Colleen was filming the movie “Game of Death,” it was a wonderful trip.

In the 1980’s after his daughter had begun her career, he joined S.A.G. and fulfilled his lifelong dream of acting by appearing in such films as “Night of the Comet,” “Armed and Dangerous,” “Walk Like a Man,” and others.

One day before he passed away he received a telegram commendation from President Reagan, as they both fought the colorization of Black and White Movies.

He was preceded in death by his mother and father, 3 brothers and 1 sister.

He is survived by his wife of 46 years, Dorothy, 2 sons, Don Camp, Glenn Camp and daughter Colleen Camp Goldwyn, 2 grandsons, 1 brother, Dick Camp, Pinole, California, 2 sisters, Virginia Goddard, Malad, Idaho, and Maureen Thomas, Ontario, California.

Private funeral services were held at Forest Lawn in North Hollywood on March 22nd, and interment was at Forest Lawn. In lieu of flowers, memorials were to be sent to the Cancer Society.