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Additional BELL Surnames in GRACELAWN Cemetery
BELL, ClarenceBELL, EmmaBELL, Troy CBELL, Mary EBELL, Betty JaneBELL (VETERAN KOR), Robert Eugene "Gene"BELL, Betty JoHAMMOCK BELL, Betty JoBELL, Gary JayBELL, Carolyn JaneBELL, Jimmy GBELL, Cody BlaineBELL, Robert LouisBELL, Vint Wayne Additional BELL Surnames in CRAWFORD County
BELL, Aggie LeeBELL, Betty AnnBELL, Charles WesleyBELL, Charley HBELL, DeliaBELL, Debra KayBELL, Dora ElizabethBELL, Dortha MaeBELL, E F "Bert"BELL, EllenBELL, ErnestBELL, Gerald CBELL, GladysBELL, HarriettBELL, J WalterBELL, J Fletcher (original stone)BELL, J FletcherBELL, Jasper CBELL, JaneBELL, James S.BELL, JerryBELL, John WBELL, John WBELL, Johnny LeeBELL, John DaleBELL, LauraBELL, Leonard MBELL, LeonBELL, LilahBELL, LucyBELL, Mary Elizabeth (original stone)BELL, Mary ElizabethBELL, Mary BelleBELL, Mary EthelBELL, Mildred L.BELL, MollieBELL, Oscar R.BELL, R PBELL, Ricky LynnBELL, RonaldBELL, RuthBELL, Samuel J TBELL, Susie MBELL, VallanceBELL, VicieBELL, Vinson WalterBELL, Virginia JBELL, William RBELL, William Muriel
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Submitted: 6/17/22 • Approved: 7/3/22 • Last Updated: 7/6/22 • R1437066-G1437065-S3
Robert
Korea
September 6, 1931 - February 20, 2021
*Obituary
Robert Eugene “Gene” Bell was born on September 6, 1931. He went to be with his Lord and Savior on February 20, 2021.
He was preceded in death by his wife of almost 60 years, Betty Jo Bell, his parents, Joseph Fletcher Bell and Mary Elizabeth Bell. Gene was preceded in death by his brothers, Johnny Bell, Jim Bell and Carl Bell.
He is survived by his four daughters, Debbie (Dan) Deffenbaugh, Barbie (Scott) Curtis, Terri (Ralph) Little, and Robbie Spoon. He is survived by eight grandchildren, Drew (Brandi) Deffenbaugh, Dawn (Josh) Nichols, Danielle (Chris) Ross, Joshua (Sara) Curtis, Morgan Mullens, Jordan Curtis, Tyler (Sarah) Spoon & Malorie (Ryan) Pearson. He is also survived by seven great grandchildren: Lilly Deffenbaugh, Presley Nichols, Anna Belle Deffenbaugh, Kinley Nichols, Sadie Deffenbaugh, Kylie & Kade, Scarlett Jo Spoon, and Aaron Bryant Curtis-due in a couple of weeks.
Gene is survived by one sister, Mary Coble.
Gene was a 1949 graduate of Van Buren High School and attended Fort Smith Community College until he joined the US Navy from 1951-1955. He was a Korean War Veteran. Gene was an accountant for Evans Coal Company in Fort Smith before going into business with his best friend, Earl Robinson as Robinson-Bell, Inc. He was also Vice-President & Cashier of People’s Bank. He served one term on the Van Buren City Council and then went on to serve as mayor of Van Buren from 1978-1990. Following his role as mayor, he then became the director of the Crawford Sebastian Community Development Council. He served as City Clerk treasurer for 2 years and was also co-owner of Williams Florist & Gifts in Van Buren for over 30 years.
Gene has served his community in many ways including:
Deacon & Chairman of the deacons at First Baptist Church, and served on most every committee at the church at some point in his lifetime.
Executive Board at Arkansas Baptist State Convention & its Board of Directors
Past President of the Crawford County board of Realtors & Realtor of the year in 1971. He was also one of the first graduates of GRI (Graduate Realtor Institute) Member & past president of the Lion’s Club, board of directors and Department District Governor of Lion’s Club. He received his 50 year pin in 2014 and was awarded the Melvin Jones Fellow in 2016
Van Buren Boys Club board Member and treasurer
Van Buren United Way fund drive and past chairman of the board
Van Buren School Board (Secretary for 5 years)
He was the recipient of the Iverson Riggs Citizen of the year Award in 1990
He was inducted into the Van Buren High School Hall of Fame in 2002
Served as President of the Arkansas Municipal League and served on many boards including the MHBF Board from its inception
Awarded Van Buren’s Living Legend of Crawford County in 1995. Served on the Civil Service Commission for 25 years
Served on the hospital board (Crawford Memorial) for 27 years and served as Chairman of that board for 6 years.
Of all the honors Gene was given, his greatest honor was being a husband to his sweet Betty Jo and daddy to his 4 girls and being Grandpa and Great Grandpa! Gene was probably the most giving and generous man, and if you ever saw him in a restaurant, he probably picked up your ticket a time or two. He loved his country, his city, his many “adopted” sons & daughters, friends, colleagues, and most of all his family. He has set the standard high by showing us what true integrity, leadership, and sacrifice looks like. He always took care of others first! But most importantly, he modeled what it looked like to walk by faith in Jesus Christ every day.
The one piece of advice he kept sharing in his last days was “if you can do something for someone, do it.” Our prayer is that we will be able to carry on the amazing legacy he has left to each of us as his family.
Funeral services will be 10AM, Thursday, February 25, 2021 at First Baptist Church Sanctuary in Van Buren with burial to follow at Gracelawn Cemetery under the direction of Ocker Funeral Home in Van Buren.
Pallbearers will be Drew Deffenbaugh, Josh Nichols, Joshua Curtis, Jordan Curtis, Ryan Pearson, Tyler Spoon and Chris Ross.
Betty
July 4, 1932 - September 10, 2011
Betty Jo Bell, 79, of Van Buren, Arkansas passed away Saturday, September 10, 2011 in a local hospital.
She was a retired teacher of Tate & King Schools, taught kindergarten, Preschool & Sunday School at First Baptist Church in Van Buren. She was a 1951 graduate & Van Buren High School, Lifetime member of the Van Buren's Women's League and of the King School PTA, an out of town Ark-Oklahoma Rodeo Queen in 1949 and 1950 Van Buren High School Home Coming Queen. She was also Co-Owner of Williams Florist and "Former First Lady of Van Buren for 12 years".
She was preceded in death by her parents, R.W. and Virginia Hammock, and one sister, Callie Poole.
She is survived by her husband, Gene Bell of the home; four daughters, Debbie Deffenbaugh and husband Dan, Barbie Curtis and husband Scott, Terri Jo Mullins and husband Don, and Robbie Spoon and husband Rick all of Van Buren.; three brothers, Bill Hammock of Van Buren, Clyde Lee hammock of Fort Smith, and Jackie Hammock of Russellville; two sisters, Ann Lindsey of Van Buren and Viola Davidson of Mayflower, Arkansas; eight grandchildren, Drew Deffenbaugh, Dawn and husband, Josh Nichols, Danielle Ross and husband, Chris, Tyler Spoon, Josh & Jordan Curtis, Morgan & Malorie Mullens; four great grandchildren Lilly Beth & Anna Belle Deffenbaugh, Presley & Kinley Nichols.
Funeral services will be held Wednesday September 14th 2011 at 10:00am at First Baptist Church Van Buren with Dr. Scott Maze officiating. Burial will be at Gracelawn Cemetery.
Pallbearers are Drew Deffenbaugh, Josh and Jordan Curtis, Tyler Spoon, Josh Nichols, Chris Ross, Kenny Lindsey and Tommy Wayne Poole. Honorary pallbearers will be Earl Robinson and all other Deacons of First Baptist Church in Van Buren.
Photo courtesy of Frances Allen Titsworth
Contributed on 6/17/22 by Billsully060
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Record #: 1437066