Stephen Shannon McCampbell

Colonel (Retired USAF Reserves)

Stephen (Steve) Shannon McCampbell, Age 81, passed away suddenly Monday, June 8, 2026 after a fall that resulted in a fatal coma. Steve was born May 16, 1945, in Dayton Ohio but lived on the family farm outside of Cincinnati Ohio until the age of 8. After his parents' divorce life was tough. He lived in the small town of Seaman Ohio where he was a top student but moved to Lansdale PA in his Senior year. He graduated Valedictorian of his class while working in various after school jobs. He then enlisted in the Air Force and served in Vietnam. The military sent him to Ohio State University where he graduated with a BS Magna Cum Laude and an MBA cum laude. He never studied much but loved going to school, soaking up knowledge and making lifelong friends.

Steve was preceded in death by both his parents, Henry S. McCampbell and Ann L. Stevens Kulp as well as his son Stevie McCampbell. He is survived by his devoted wife of 58 years, Arlene, his three daughters Laura McCampbell Becker (Justin); Shannon McCambell Freedman (Jessica); and Tara McCampbell as well as two sisters, Sherian Harrington (Jim) and Connie McCampbell Smith. He adored his three grandchildren, Ruby McCampbell Custer (19); Elliott McCampbell Freedman (14) and Wendell McCampbell Freedman (12).

After serving in the military for several years he transitioned to the Air Force Reserves, serving at the Pentagon and sometimes teaching at the Air Force Academy in Colorado. He was deployed for Desert Storm where he was Director of Logistics at the Pentagon. Steve rose to the rank of Colonel in the Reserves and retired in 1992. While he was in the Reserves, he also worked for IBM in Manhattan where he sold mainframe computers to Merrill Lynch. In 1978 he transferred and moved the family to Albuquerque where he was a finance specialist for IBM, eventually covering the western region for sales support.

In 1985 his entrepreneurial spirit took hold, and he started Compu-Fix Inc which became one of the largest computer repair centers in New Mexico. He left IBM in 1986 and started More Inc which developed one of the first image-based teller systems in the US. Their customers included Chase Manhattan Bank and other large financial institutions. In 2003 Steve sold More Inc to Wausau Financial Systems where he worked for them until 2006, integrating and selling his teller software. Steve, along with his son and wife, also started Fat Tire Cycles in 1995 and after 26 years sold that business in 2021. Bored with retirement, Steve again started another company called USAi Robotics in 2024. This involved selling outdoor security robots. Still selling until his untimely death this year. Steve made many good friends in business and in the military. His employees were also very important to him.

Steve's love of scuba diving meant the family enjoyed many vacations around Hawaii and the Caribbean.

He also enjoyed woodworking, reading constantly and computer gaming. His great pleasure came from talking to colleagues and customers alike. Friendly and talkative, he truly enjoyed mentoring younger folks who he tried to guide away from the early business mistakes that he had made.

A Celebration of Life will be held at 2:30 pm on Saturday, August 8, 2026, at Canyon Country Club 911 Four Hills Road SE Albuquerque NM. The service will be followed by a reception.