Hazel Ritchie Bell
October 12, 1914 - April 18, 2011

Hazel Ritchie Bell, 96, of Drayden, MD, passed away Monday, April 18, 2011, in Fredericksburg, VA. She was born on October 12, 1914, in Harriston, VA, to the late Wilbur E. and Ethel Baker Ritchie. In 1917, her family moved to Ingleside Farm in Bealeton, VA. Hazel often reminisced about her youth and happy times shared with her many brothers and sisters growing up at the "homeplace."

Hazel's father valued education and encouraged her to attend college. She graduated from Madison College (now James Madison University) in 1938 with a Bachelor of Science in Education. Her degree and the many skills she mastered growing up on a working farm prepared her for an early career teaching high school home economics. In 1955 Hazel started a kindergarten school in her home and later taught fourth grade at Calverton Elementary School. She served as principal at both Calverton Elementary School and Remington Elementary School. Hazel was hired as the first Supervisor of Fauquier County's School Cafeteria Program, a position she held until her retirement in 1981. Hazel touched the lives of many students over the course of her long and dedicated career, and in retirement, often was stopped on the streets of Warrenton by former students who remembered her fondly.

In retirement Hazel involved herself in the Fauquier community as a Garden Club volunteer, Fauquier Hospital Auxiliary member, member of the Warrenton Embroidery Guild, and member of Warrenton United Methodist Church. She frequently met her beloved daughter for lunch and traveled with college friends and her siblings. Free time was spent cooking, sewing, gardening, antiquing, and doing needlework. Even in her final years, Hazel crocheted beautiful afghans for friends and family.

Above all, Hazel was a devoted wife, mother, sister, grandmother, and great-grandmother. "Family is everything," she would say. Hazel is preceded in death by her husband, John Edwin Bell, whom she married in 1943; four brothers, Charles Ritchie, Hunter Ritchie, Claude Ritchie, and Calvin ''Boots" Ritchie ; and one sister Marie Lee. She is survived by two sisters, Peggy Danahy and Jennalee McNally, both of Fredericksburg, VA; one daughter, Joan Buratti of Drayden, MD; one grandson, Kevin Martin and two great-grandchildren, Alec Martin and Meredith Martin, all of Charlottesville, VA.

The family will receive friends from 7 until 9 p.m., Thursday, April 21, 2011, at Moser Funeral Home, 233 Broadview Avenue, Warrenton, VA, 20186. Funeral services will take place at 3 p.m., Friday, April 22, 2011 at Moser Funeral Home. Burial immediately following the service at Cedar Grove Cemetery in Bealeton, VA. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to First Saints Community Church, P.O. Box 38, Piney Point, MD 20674.