Obituary;
Wendell Ernest Bell was born November 21, 1925 near Flo, Texas at the home of his maternal grandparents, Etta Idelia Huddleston and Samuel Lee Johnson. He was the first born child of William Ernest and Mary Adeline "Lina" Johnson Bell. He died September 8, 2001 in Bryan, Texas. Wendell grew up in the Flo area where he attended school. He learned early to hunt deer and squirrel, as well as to plow the garden. As the oldest child, he helped supply the food for the family. In 1939, when his parents moved into the home of Wendell's great grandparents, Jonathan Andrew and Sarah Jacqulie Moore Bell, at Russell, Wendell split trees to make shingles to reroof the home. He also split the posts to rebuild the fence. He was never afraid of hard work.
Wendell enlisted in the Army November 22, 1943, just one day after his 18th birthday. During World War II, Wendell sailed by ship from the states to Edinburg, Scotland and was then sent to Germany. He re-enlisted November 4, 1945 and served until January 6, 1947. He was wounded in battle in Germany and received the Purple Heart.
Upon returning to Centerville, he met Jim Pearl Bell. They were married in Madisonville, Texas on February 8, 1947. Soon after their marriage, Wendell was wounded again while sitting in his Jeep in Centerville while Jim Pearl was shopping. The sheriff at that time was chasing a man and discharged his weapon several times. A stray bullet hit Wendell in the arm.
Wendell worked in construction as well as for TDC. He also served as constable in Centerville in the late 1950s. He worked as a superintendent for R. B. Butler Construction out of Bryan, Texas for over 25 years, building sewer and water treatment plants around the state. His work took him and his family to San Benito, Bryan, Mesquite, Abilene, Killeen, Belton, Lubbock, and San Antonio. After his youngest son, James, started first grade, Wendell would drive to whatever city he was working in, spend the week, and come home to Centerville on the weekends.
Wendell loved animals, especially horses, donkeys, and mules. His favorites were his horses, the Black Mare, Sarah, Shorty, and Traveler; his mule, Homebrew; and his donkey, Jack. Each year he grew a huge garden, which he worked with his mule, and he always had one of the best pea patches in the county. He also loved spending time with his siblings, cousins, and aunts and uncles around Leon county.
Wendell was preceded in death by his parents, brothers Wallace Ray Bell and Roy Ira Bell. He is survived by his wife, Jim Pearl Norris Bell, son, James Wendell Bell (Keith), adopted son Mitchell Lee Bell, sisters and brothers Mayme Pearl Ellis (Bunch) of Centerville, Weldon Tommy Bell (Clarice) of Dallas, Frank Vaughn Bell (Jessie Lee) of Centerville, Mary Jo Ehrlich of Centerville, Eva Ruth Langley Roccaforte (Pete) of New Caney, Cecil Ivan Bell (Dorothy) of Oakwood, Jerry Lynn Bell (Alice) of Leona, and a host of cousins, nieces and nephews.
Services were held September 10 in Buffalo, Texas. Burial was in the Beaverdam Cemetery near Centerville.
Wendell Ernest Bell was born November 21, 1925 near Flo, Texas at the home of his maternal grandparents, Etta Idelia Huddleston and Samuel Lee Johnson. He was the first born child of William Ernest and Mary Adeline "Lina" Johnson Bell. He died September 8, 2001 in Bryan, Texas. Wendell grew up in the Flo area where he attended school. He learned early to hunt deer and squirrel, as well as to plow the garden. As the oldest child, he helped supply the food for the family. In 1939, when his parents moved into the home of Wendell's great grandparents, Jonathan Andrew and Sarah Jacqulie Moore Bell, at Russell, Wendell split trees to make shingles to reroof the home. He also split the posts to rebuild the fence. He was never afraid of hard work.
Wendell enlisted in the Army November 22, 1943, just one day after his 18th birthday. During World War II, Wendell sailed by ship from the states to Edinburg, Scotland and was then sent to Germany. He re-enlisted November 4, 1945 and served until January 6, 1947. He was wounded in battle in Germany and received the Purple Heart.
Upon returning to Centerville, he met Jim Pearl Bell. They were married in Madisonville, Texas on February 8, 1947. Soon after their marriage, Wendell was wounded again while sitting in his Jeep in Centerville while Jim Pearl was shopping. The sheriff at that time was chasing a man and discharged his weapon several times. A stray bullet hit Wendell in the arm.
Wendell worked in construction as well as for TDC. He also served as constable in Centerville in the late 1950s. He worked as a superintendent for R. B. Butler Construction out of Bryan, Texas for over 25 years, building sewer and water treatment plants around the state. His work took him and his family to San Benito, Bryan, Mesquite, Abilene, Killeen, Belton, Lubbock, and San Antonio. After his youngest son, James, started first grade, Wendell would drive to whatever city he was working in, spend the week, and come home to Centerville on the weekends.
Wendell loved animals, especially horses, donkeys, and mules. His favorites were his horses, the Black Mare, Sarah, Shorty, and Traveler; his mule, Homebrew; and his donkey, Jack. Each year he grew a huge garden, which he worked with his mule, and he always had one of the best pea patches in the county. He also loved spending time with his siblings, cousins, and aunts and uncles around Leon county.
Wendell was preceded in death by his parents, brothers Wallace Ray Bell and Roy Ira Bell. He is survived by his wife, Jim Pearl Norris Bell, son, James Wendell Bell (Keith), adopted son Mitchell Lee Bell, sisters and brothers Mayme Pearl Ellis (Bunch) of Centerville, Weldon Tommy Bell (Clarice) of Dallas, Frank Vaughn Bell (Jessie Lee) of Centerville, Mary Jo Ehrlich of Centerville, Eva Ruth Langley Roccaforte (Pete) of New Caney, Cecil Ivan Bell (Dorothy) of Oakwood, Jerry Lynn Bell (Alice) of Leona, and a host of cousins, nieces and nephews.
Services were held September 10 in Buffalo, Texas. Burial was in the Beaverdam Cemetery near Centerville.
Obituary;
Wendell Ernest Bell was born November 21, 1925 near Flo, Texas at the home of his maternal grandparents, Etta Idelia Huddleston and Samuel Lee Johnson. He was the first born child of William Ernest and Mary Adeline "Lina" Johnson Bell. He died September 8, 2001 in Bryan, Texas. Wendell grew up in the Flo area where he attended school. He learned early to hunt deer and squirrel, as well as to plow the garden. As the oldest child, he helped supply the food for the family. In 1939, when his parents moved into the home of Wendell's great grandparents, Jonathan Andrew and Sarah Jacqulie Moore Bell, at Russell, Wendell split trees to make shingles to reroof the home. He also split the posts to rebuild the fence. He was never afraid of hard work.
Wendell enlisted in the Army November 22, 1943, just one day after his 18th birthday. During World War II, Wendell sailed by ship from the states to Edinburg, Scotland and was then sent to Germany. He re-enlisted November 4, 1945 and served until January 6, 1947. He was wounded in battle in Germany and received the Purple Heart.
Upon returning to Centerville, he met Jim Pearl Bell. They were married in Madisonville, Texas on February 8, 1947. Soon after their marriage, Wendell was wounded again while sitting in his Jeep in Centerville while Jim Pearl was shopping. The sheriff at that time was chasing a man and discharged his weapon several times. A stray bullet hit Wendell in the arm.
Wendell worked in construction as well as for TDC. He also served as constable in Centerville in the late 1950s. He worked as a superintendent for R. B. Butler Construction out of Bryan, Texas for over 25 years, building sewer and water treatment plants around the state. His work took him and his family to San Benito, Bryan, Mesquite, Abilene, Killeen, Belton, Lubbock, and San Antonio. After his youngest son, James, started first grade, Wendell would drive to whatever city he was working in, spend the week, and come home to Centerville on the weekends.
Wendell loved animals, especially horses, donkeys, and mules. His favorites were his horses, the Black Mare, Sarah, Shorty, and Traveler; his mule, Homebrew; and his donkey, Jack. Each year he grew a huge garden, which he worked with his mule, and he always had one of the best pea patches in the county. He also loved spending time with his siblings, cousins, and aunts and uncles around Leon county.
Wendell was preceded in death by his parents, brothers Wallace Ray Bell and Roy Ira Bell. He is survived by his wife, Jim Pearl Norris Bell, son, James Wendell Bell (Keith), adopted son Mitchell Lee Bell, sisters and brothers Mayme Pearl Ellis (Bunch) of Centerville, Weldon Tommy Bell (Clarice) of Dallas, Frank Vaughn Bell (Jessie Lee) of Centerville, Mary Jo Ehrlich of Centerville, Eva Ruth Langley Roccaforte (Pete) of New Caney, Cecil Ivan Bell (Dorothy) of Oakwood, Jerry Lynn Bell (Alice) of Leona, and a host of cousins, nieces and nephews.
Services were held September 10 in Buffalo, Texas. Burial was in the Beaverdam Cemetery near Centerville.
Wendell Ernest Bell was born November 21, 1925 near Flo, Texas at the home of his maternal grandparents, Etta Idelia Huddleston and Samuel Lee Johnson. He was the first born child of William Ernest and Mary Adeline "Lina" Johnson Bell. He died September 8, 2001 in Bryan, Texas. Wendell grew up in the Flo area where he attended school. He learned early to hunt deer and squirrel, as well as to plow the garden. As the oldest child, he helped supply the food for the family. In 1939, when his parents moved into the home of Wendell's great grandparents, Jonathan Andrew and Sarah Jacqulie Moore Bell, at Russell, Wendell split trees to make shingles to reroof the home. He also split the posts to rebuild the fence. He was never afraid of hard work.
Wendell enlisted in the Army November 22, 1943, just one day after his 18th birthday. During World War II, Wendell sailed by ship from the states to Edinburg, Scotland and was then sent to Germany. He re-enlisted November 4, 1945 and served until January 6, 1947. He was wounded in battle in Germany and received the Purple Heart.
Upon returning to Centerville, he met Jim Pearl Bell. They were married in Madisonville, Texas on February 8, 1947. Soon after their marriage, Wendell was wounded again while sitting in his Jeep in Centerville while Jim Pearl was shopping. The sheriff at that time was chasing a man and discharged his weapon several times. A stray bullet hit Wendell in the arm.
Wendell worked in construction as well as for TDC. He also served as constable in Centerville in the late 1950s. He worked as a superintendent for R. B. Butler Construction out of Bryan, Texas for over 25 years, building sewer and water treatment plants around the state. His work took him and his family to San Benito, Bryan, Mesquite, Abilene, Killeen, Belton, Lubbock, and San Antonio. After his youngest son, James, started first grade, Wendell would drive to whatever city he was working in, spend the week, and come home to Centerville on the weekends.
Wendell loved animals, especially horses, donkeys, and mules. His favorites were his horses, the Black Mare, Sarah, Shorty, and Traveler; his mule, Homebrew; and his donkey, Jack. Each year he grew a huge garden, which he worked with his mule, and he always had one of the best pea patches in the county. He also loved spending time with his siblings, cousins, and aunts and uncles around Leon county.
Wendell was preceded in death by his parents, brothers Wallace Ray Bell and Roy Ira Bell. He is survived by his wife, Jim Pearl Norris Bell, son, James Wendell Bell (Keith), adopted son Mitchell Lee Bell, sisters and brothers Mayme Pearl Ellis (Bunch) of Centerville, Weldon Tommy Bell (Clarice) of Dallas, Frank Vaughn Bell (Jessie Lee) of Centerville, Mary Jo Ehrlich of Centerville, Eva Ruth Langley Roccaforte (Pete) of New Caney, Cecil Ivan Bell (Dorothy) of Oakwood, Jerry Lynn Bell (Alice) of Leona, and a host of cousins, nieces and nephews.
Services were held September 10 in Buffalo, Texas. Burial was in the Beaverdam Cemetery near Centerville.
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