By Rebecca Billman
The Cincinnati Enquirer

Bishop Daniel Campbell Sr., pastor of the House of God Temple No. 1 in College Hill for 53 years, exemplified the life of Christ by taking care of his congregation and strangers alike.

He gave them all a "love that can never be replaced," his daughter-in-law, Thelma Campbell of West Chester, said. "He instilled in the congregation a great love for God and to keep God's commandments, and a duty to man."

Bishop Campbell died Dec. 3 of a heart attack at Jewish Hospital. The Roselawn resident was 87.

"Some feel as if they can't go on without him being there," said his daughter-in-law. "He was there when a lot of the people in the church were born. He baptized them as babies. These people knew no one else but him as a leader, as a grandfather, as a friend, as a pastor - as everything to us."

A faithful member of the House of God since 1947, Bishop Campbell mentored other pastors who went out and started new congregations under his tutelage. "There were several other churches that grew out of our church," said his daughter-in-law. "He was responsible for a lot of growth."

In addition to serving as pastor for his church, Bishop Campbell served in several positions for the national House of God organization. He was superintendent of Kentucky, divisional superintendent of the South, divisional superintendent of the North, and a member of the House Of God credential board, apostles board and board of directors.

In his own church, he sponsored a Sabbath Day Lunch every week, providing a meal - in the tradition of Jesus feeding the masses - to about 150 members to sustain them during all-day worship services. He cared deeply about the needs of not only his own church, but of all people.

Born in 1924 in Conyers, Ga., Bishop Campbell moved to Cincinnati with his family, which included 10 children, when he was a year old. In 1940 he married Helen Gant and, in 1947, joined the House of God church in Cincinnati.

After stints as deacon and elder, he became vicar bishop and, after receiving a doctorate in divinity from the Kentucky College of Contemporary Religion in Lexington, was ordained a bishop in 1968.

In addition to his daughter-in-law, Thelma, survivors include Helen Campbell, his wife of 64 years; four daughters, Barbara Alexander and Gloria Jean Campbell, both of North Avondale, and Sandra Reese and Alice Webb both of Western Hills; five sons, Robert A. Campbell of North Avondale, Anthony Campbell of Forest Park, Daniel Campbell Jr. of Savannah, Ga., Richard M. Campbell of West Chester, and LeRoy Campbell of Pleasant Ridge; two sisters, Zella Jennings of Bond Hill and Nettie White of College Hill; four brothers, John L. Campbell of Beaufort, S.C., Eugene Campbell of College Hill, George McCullom of Bond Hill and Larry McCullomof Finneytown; 26 grandchildren; and 40 great-grandchildren.

Services have been held. Burial was at Oak Hill Cemetery in Springdale.

Memorials: House of God, P.O. Box 29212, Cincinnati, OH 45229.

E-mail rbillman@enquirer.com