Elijah "Tex" Bell was born on January 5, 1932, in Trinity, Texas, to Elijah Bell and Willie Eleanor Allen Bell. He entered his eternal home peacefully on Thursday, July 7, 2022, surrounded by his family. He was preceded in death by his wife of 52 years, MaryEllen Eckhoff Bell, on January 5, 2005, his parents and eight siblings. He leaves behind four children--Randal Alan Bell, Brenda Lea (James) Kurth, Melody (Todd) Henegar, and Steven Bell; seven grandchildren--Eric (Amber) Bell, Kristin (Ezekiel) Valdez, Stephanie Buchhorn, Dana (Nicholas) Martin, Ryan (Ashley) Bell, Kyle (Maddie) Henegar, Jason (Mandy) Kurth and thirteen great grandchildren. Also surviving is one sister, Betty Ann Lapatka of Parrotsville, Tennessee.
Tex served his country in the United States Air Force from 1949 to 1953 during the Korean War, stationed at Sheppard Air Force Base, Wichita Falls, Texas, and Chanute Air Force Base, Rantoul, Illinois. After an Honorable Discharge, he continued his service as a civilian with the Department of Defense for 42 years.
He met his wife, MaryEllen, while stationed at Chanute Air Force Base, and they were married on August 2, 1952, in Paxton, Illinois.
Tex and MaryEllen relocated to Texas, where he enrolled in Sam Houston State University, Huntsville, Texas. During that time, he and MaryEllen had three children, Randal, Brenda and Melody. They returned to Paxton in November 1958. He began his civil service career at Chanute Air Force Base. In 1960, they welcomed their fourth child, Steven. He moved back to Texas in 1983, where he retired from Randolph Air Force Base, Universal City, Texas.
He was always ready to learn and indulged in several interests: He attended and graduated with Honors in Accounting from the University of Illinois, Champaign-Urbana, Illinois. He served the community as Alderman, was a Mayoral Candidate, and Head of Civil Defense. He received his SCUBA certification, performed search and rescue, received a locksmith certificate, was a 2nd degree blackbelt in Karate and shared his passion through teaching.
Tex never knew a stranger and enjoyed spending time with family and friends--including spinning stories and playing pool at the local bar. A true cowboy at heart, he loved reading Louis Lamore novels and watching anything western. His greatest love, though, was his family. He always said: God, Family, Country, in that order. To that end, he was a member of the First United Baptist Church, Universal City, Texas.
A visitation will be held at the First Baptist Church, Universal City, Texas, with a memorial service immediately following (date pending). He will be laid to rest at Cedar Grove Cemetery in Trinity, Texas, in a private graveside service.
Colonial Funeral Home
Tex served his country in the United States Air Force from 1949 to 1953 during the Korean War, stationed at Sheppard Air Force Base, Wichita Falls, Texas, and Chanute Air Force Base, Rantoul, Illinois. After an Honorable Discharge, he continued his service as a civilian with the Department of Defense for 42 years.
He met his wife, MaryEllen, while stationed at Chanute Air Force Base, and they were married on August 2, 1952, in Paxton, Illinois.
Tex and MaryEllen relocated to Texas, where he enrolled in Sam Houston State University, Huntsville, Texas. During that time, he and MaryEllen had three children, Randal, Brenda and Melody. They returned to Paxton in November 1958. He began his civil service career at Chanute Air Force Base. In 1960, they welcomed their fourth child, Steven. He moved back to Texas in 1983, where he retired from Randolph Air Force Base, Universal City, Texas.
He was always ready to learn and indulged in several interests: He attended and graduated with Honors in Accounting from the University of Illinois, Champaign-Urbana, Illinois. He served the community as Alderman, was a Mayoral Candidate, and Head of Civil Defense. He received his SCUBA certification, performed search and rescue, received a locksmith certificate, was a 2nd degree blackbelt in Karate and shared his passion through teaching.
Tex never knew a stranger and enjoyed spending time with family and friends--including spinning stories and playing pool at the local bar. A true cowboy at heart, he loved reading Louis Lamore novels and watching anything western. His greatest love, though, was his family. He always said: God, Family, Country, in that order. To that end, he was a member of the First United Baptist Church, Universal City, Texas.
A visitation will be held at the First Baptist Church, Universal City, Texas, with a memorial service immediately following (date pending). He will be laid to rest at Cedar Grove Cemetery in Trinity, Texas, in a private graveside service.
Colonial Funeral Home
Elijah "Tex" Bell was born on January 5, 1932, in Trinity, Texas, to Elijah Bell and Willie Eleanor Allen Bell. He entered his eternal home peacefully on Thursday, July 7, 2022, surrounded by his family. He was preceded in death by his wife of 52 years, MaryEllen Eckhoff Bell, on January 5, 2005, his parents and eight siblings. He leaves behind four children--Randal Alan Bell, Brenda Lea (James) Kurth, Melody (Todd) Henegar, and Steven Bell; seven grandchildren--Eric (Amber) Bell, Kristin (Ezekiel) Valdez, Stephanie Buchhorn, Dana (Nicholas) Martin, Ryan (Ashley) Bell, Kyle (Maddie) Henegar, Jason (Mandy) Kurth and thirteen great grandchildren. Also surviving is one sister, Betty Ann Lapatka of Parrotsville, Tennessee.
Tex served his country in the United States Air Force from 1949 to 1953 during the Korean War, stationed at Sheppard Air Force Base, Wichita Falls, Texas, and Chanute Air Force Base, Rantoul, Illinois. After an Honorable Discharge, he continued his service as a civilian with the Department of Defense for 42 years.
He met his wife, MaryEllen, while stationed at Chanute Air Force Base, and they were married on August 2, 1952, in Paxton, Illinois.
Tex and MaryEllen relocated to Texas, where he enrolled in Sam Houston State University, Huntsville, Texas. During that time, he and MaryEllen had three children, Randal, Brenda and Melody. They returned to Paxton in November 1958. He began his civil service career at Chanute Air Force Base. In 1960, they welcomed their fourth child, Steven. He moved back to Texas in 1983, where he retired from Randolph Air Force Base, Universal City, Texas.
He was always ready to learn and indulged in several interests: He attended and graduated with Honors in Accounting from the University of Illinois, Champaign-Urbana, Illinois. He served the community as Alderman, was a Mayoral Candidate, and Head of Civil Defense. He received his SCUBA certification, performed search and rescue, received a locksmith certificate, was a 2nd degree blackbelt in Karate and shared his passion through teaching.
Tex never knew a stranger and enjoyed spending time with family and friends--including spinning stories and playing pool at the local bar. A true cowboy at heart, he loved reading Louis Lamore novels and watching anything western. His greatest love, though, was his family. He always said: God, Family, Country, in that order. To that end, he was a member of the First United Baptist Church, Universal City, Texas.
A visitation will be held at the First Baptist Church, Universal City, Texas, with a memorial service immediately following (date pending). He will be laid to rest at Cedar Grove Cemetery in Trinity, Texas, in a private graveside service.
Colonial Funeral Home
Tex served his country in the United States Air Force from 1949 to 1953 during the Korean War, stationed at Sheppard Air Force Base, Wichita Falls, Texas, and Chanute Air Force Base, Rantoul, Illinois. After an Honorable Discharge, he continued his service as a civilian with the Department of Defense for 42 years.
He met his wife, MaryEllen, while stationed at Chanute Air Force Base, and they were married on August 2, 1952, in Paxton, Illinois.
Tex and MaryEllen relocated to Texas, where he enrolled in Sam Houston State University, Huntsville, Texas. During that time, he and MaryEllen had three children, Randal, Brenda and Melody. They returned to Paxton in November 1958. He began his civil service career at Chanute Air Force Base. In 1960, they welcomed their fourth child, Steven. He moved back to Texas in 1983, where he retired from Randolph Air Force Base, Universal City, Texas.
He was always ready to learn and indulged in several interests: He attended and graduated with Honors in Accounting from the University of Illinois, Champaign-Urbana, Illinois. He served the community as Alderman, was a Mayoral Candidate, and Head of Civil Defense. He received his SCUBA certification, performed search and rescue, received a locksmith certificate, was a 2nd degree blackbelt in Karate and shared his passion through teaching.
Tex never knew a stranger and enjoyed spending time with family and friends--including spinning stories and playing pool at the local bar. A true cowboy at heart, he loved reading Louis Lamore novels and watching anything western. His greatest love, though, was his family. He always said: God, Family, Country, in that order. To that end, he was a member of the First United Baptist Church, Universal City, Texas.
A visitation will be held at the First Baptist Church, Universal City, Texas, with a memorial service immediately following (date pending). He will be laid to rest at Cedar Grove Cemetery in Trinity, Texas, in a private graveside service.
Colonial Funeral Home
Family Members
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
Advertisement
