Robert Lewis Bell passed away on Wednesday, Jan. 7, 2015.
He was born on June 12, 1921, to Rollo Robin Bell and Alice Surguy Bell in Ventura, Calif. He grew up in Baldwin Park, Calif., and graduated from Covina Park High School. While in high school, he was honored to go to Boys State, sponsored by the American Legion, where he met the governor of California.
Robert was into food distribution at an early age…pulling his wagon around selling corn to the neighbors. He went on to have several businesses dealing with food distribution, the last of which was Fairhill Foods Co. in Phoenix.
He was a veteran of World War II, stationed in Sicily. He served as a radio operator and since he was good at carpentry, he helped repair war damaged buildings.
Robert married Betty Jean Tannehill Dec. 1, 1942, in Kansas City, Mo., and they later divorced. They had one son, Robert Edward Bell, who is now deceased.
On Nov. 10, 1948, he married Martha Virginia Brison in Lansing, Ill. She was his partner in business and in life until Feb. 23, 2012, when she unexpectedly went home to be with the Lord. He missed her dearly. When we would ask how he was, his most frequent answer was, “I’m still here.”
Robert and Virginia had four children, Kathleen, John, David and Janice, nine grandchildren, 10 great-grandchildren and just recently one great-great-grandson. He is also survived by one brother, Arthur Rolo Bell, and many nieces and nephews.
Silver Creek Mortuary of Taylor was in charge of the arrangements.
