Roll Call Tribute

Published in Bellingham (WA) Herald on July 7, 2017

Robert Joseph Bell
After a long and adventurous life, Robert "Bob" Bell left this world for the next on June 25th, making a final journey in a life of many journeys. Bob's first trip was by train and steamer from his birthplace, Duncan Oklahoma, with his family to Burma, where his mother was raised and his father worked as an oil driller. After three years the family returned stateside and Bob spent his youth in Oklahoma and Texas. As a teen during WWII, Bob ran off to work on tugs along the Eastern Seaboard and Gulf Coast. After high school Bob was accepted into the Merchant Marine Academy in Kings Point New York and spent a year there before catching a service flight home on a B-25. That flight changed his career path to the Air Force. After completing cadet training Bob was stationed in Weisbaden Germany flying for Special Air Missions, SAM Squadron. He flew diplomatic and other missions to Moscow, North Africa and all over Europe. On at least one of these missions his future wife, Dorothy Kasel, an Air Force secretary, accompanied him to Spain and Italy. They both returned to the States after four years in Europe and married in Kingsville Texas in 1952. Bob completed a degree in meteorology at Texas A and M and began flying for United airlines in 1955. For United, Bob flew DC-4s, Convair 340s, DC-6s, DC-8s, 727s, 737s (his favorite commercial aircraft), and DC-10s. Up until 1975 Bob continued serving his country in the Air Force Reserve, working at McCord Air Force Base and flying MAC missions to Saigon during the Viet Nam war. After retiring in 1988, Bob's love of boats, never quenched, re-surfaced with more frequent trips in the "Burma Belle" and the "Barcarole" to the San Juan Islands and beyond with his brother Bill and family and friends. He also worked for many years as a docent at The Museum of Flight during his retirement years and continued a lifelong love of travelling the world with Dottie. Sadly, Dottie passed away in 2010. Afterwards, Bob was lucky to find love again with his high school sweetheart, Luella Wheeler. They married in 2011 and shared some precious golden years together living in Waco Texas. Bob is survived by his wife, Luella Wheeler Bell, sister-in-law Rita Bell, children Tasha, Kasey and Drew Bell, their spouses Christopher Cherney, Marjorie Bell and Isadora Jimenez, grandchildren Kelsey, Kahtya, Finley, Xalli and Itzel, and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his wife Dottie, brother Bill Bell, and Sister Joyce Witt. The family wishes to thank the staff at Highgate Senior Living for their kind help and support this last year. A memorial for Bob will be held at The Seattle Yacht Club Elliot Bay Station on August 7th at 5:00 PM. If desired, donations may be made in Bob's name to The Museum of Flight.