Julian Campbell, second from right, with his crew in North Africa in 1943.

Some people live their whole lives without cracking the kind of jokes that Julian Campbell could — and most haven’t even fought in three foreign wars.

Always bright, brimming with mirth, and possessed of indefatigable energy almost until the very end of his century-spanning life, the Cullman-area native and retired combat pilot didn’t just have a way with humor: He had a way with people.

“Julian was just an incredible, amazing guy,” said longtime friend and fellow veteran retired Col. Ken Brown, who for years enjoyed spending time with Campbell and his late wife, Marie, at local VFW events where both men were members.

“He had a great sense of humor. I told him one time, on his 90th birthday: ‘Jeez, Julian, how’re ya feeling to be 90 years old?’ — and he said, ‘Well, if I were only turning 60, I’d probably be on my way to see a doctor!’ He had a way of making everybody laugh, always full of old-age jokes, and was still playing nine holes of golf — even when he was 99 years old — at Terri Pines. He carried his own clubs without a golf cart — he said golf carts were ‘for sissies.’ The guy was just incredible.”

Campbell passed away on Monday, Sept. 18 at the age of 103, and lived life to its fullest through almost every single one of those years. Marie preceded him in death in 2022 — perhaps the only loss ever to cause him to slow his momentum — but even as recently as his 100th birthday in 2020, when the pair celebrated as he renewed his Alabama driver’s license, the longtime couple formed a funny, inseparable bond that instantly endeared their infectious optimism to everyone who knew them.

“Back when he was still in pilot training and had first leaned how to fly bombers,” says Brown, “he flew over his wife’s high school. This was early, and they were still dating at the time. He actually buzzed her high school!”

Campbell, an Air Force Lt. Colonel, spent 28 years in service to his country, retiring in 1969 after serving in WWII, Korea and Vietnam. He flew 40 combat missions as a B-26 bomber pilot against Axis forces in Sicily, Italy and France during WWII, and later flew missions throughout the Pacific during the Korean War, as well as C-47 transport missions in Vietnam.

A Crane Hill-area native who graduated from Meek High School at Arley, Campbell married Marie (née Hamner), also a Meek student, in April of 1948. One of 11 siblings, Campbell was born on Feb. 15, 1920 in the Smith Lake-area community of Trade, Ala. He and Marie had four daughters, as well as numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Campbell prized his fraternity with fellow local veterans, enjoying a close bond with other Cullman County natives who had served their country. “He found his band of brothers at the VFW,” said Brown. “He just walked in one day and said, ‘Hey — I’m looking for some heroes!’ — and a guy at the VFW said, ‘Pull up a chair.’ It was just an honor for us to be able to honor him with each passing year.”

Members of Cullman’ Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 2214 will carry out a slow salute before Campbell’s casket at his funeral service, which will be held Saturday, Sept. 23 at 2 p.m. at Seventh Street Baptist Church in Cullman, where Campbell was a longtime member. Visitation will take place from 12:30 p.m. to 2 p.m. at the same location, with burial to follow at the Meek Baptist Church Cemetery in Winston County.