Elaine Votaw Bell

Elaine Votaw Bell, age 85, of Waverly Heights, Gladwyne, PA, passed away January 10, 2013 after sustaining a stroke. Born Margaretta Elaine Votaw, she was known to most as "Lainie". Born in Milwaukee and raised in Schenectady and Scranton, she attended George School ('45), and graduated from Skidmore College ('49) with a BA in Art History. Her love of art, color and architecture continued throughout her life. As a young woman she dressed Wanamaker store windows in Philadelphia. Later she ran her own interior design business, and most recently served on the board of the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts. At age 36 she discovered tennis and played for years at Martin's Dam, Pocono Lake Preserve and Merion Cricket Club. It was both fun exercise and wonderful social time. She made many friends on the court. In 1952 she met Vincent "Buck" Bell through his cousin, and her friend, Betsy Bell Condron. They wed in 1953 in Scranton and set up life together in Philadelphia where Buck was an engineer and builder. In 1956 Buck joined his college friend Peter Musser at Safeguard Business Systems. Lainie and Buck were very involved in the local chapters of YPO and then CEO. She was preceded in death by her husband of 57 years, Vincent "Buck" Bell, and is survived by her sister Theresa Harman (Arthur); children Scott Bell (Cathy Walling), Meg Knysh (George), and Amy Bell; and grandchildren Koren Bell, Ian Bell, Jaimie Stevenson, Sophia Walling-Bell, Sarah Walling-Bell and Paul Knysh. A memorial service will be held on Saturday, February 2, 2013 at 2:00 pm at Bryn Mawr Presbyterian Church, 625 Montgomery Avenue with a reception to follow at 3:30 pm at Waverly Heights in Gladwyne, PA. Burial services will be private. In lieu of flowers the family kindly suggests contributions be made in her name to Community Volunteers in Medicine, 300 B Lawrence Drive, West Chester, PA 19380. Chadwick & McKinney Funeral Home Inc www.chadwickmckinney.com