William J. Bell's Obituary
William J. Bell lived a full 94 years before joining the Angels in the early morning hours on Monday, December 1, 2015 at Genesis Healthcare’s Milford Center in Milford, DE. He was born on December 7, 1920, son of the late William A. and Pearl Bell.
Mr. Bell was born and raised in Bristol, PA where he grew up loving sports his whole life and umpired or refereed many of the community children leagues. He fell in love with bowling through a church league, bowled on travel leagues and ended with the Senior Olympics in Delaware. Mr. Bell continued to bowl till the age of 88 when his dementia overcame the quality of life he had enjoyed.
Mr. Bell served his country proudly as a WW II veteran in the 8th Army Air Force #915, where he was a mechanic on the B-17 aircraft. After his honorable discharge, he returned home, met and married his first wife, Veronica M. Bell and began his family.
His career path led him to a long standing position with USG as an OTR Truck Driver where he retired after a serious stroke. His love of travel, work or pleasure, was a constant enjoyment while he was able to drive.
Mr. Bell began his next stage of life by marrying, Madeline L. Bell and moving to Amarillo, TX where he lived until her death in December of 1999. He would then move back east and finish out his long life’s journey under the care of his daughter and her husband in Lewes and then Milton, DE. He continued with various senior programs and home health aides until his passing. These wonderful programs gave him purpose to continue as long as he did.
In addition to his parents, Mr. Bell was preceded in death by his first wife, Veronica M. (Haggerty) Bell, his wife, Madeline L. Bell and two sisters: Pearl and Laura Mae. He is survived by his six children: William M. Bell of Levittown, PA; Anne T. Dozier of Newburg, PA; John J. Bell of Fairless Hills, PA; Catherine V. Nagy of Milton, DE; Margaret A. Romett-Jones of Smyrna, DE and Mary E. Zonetti of Stevensville, MD; ten grandchildren; eleven and half great-grandchildren; two brothers: George and Marvin of Florida, and his extended family with Elaine Smallridge and her children in Amarillo, TX.
A Funeral Service will be held at a later date in Texas and he will be interred with his late wife, Madeline, in their perpetual resting place.
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