David R. Bell

David R. Bell, formerly of West Caldwell, N.J., and Caldwell, N.J., passed away on April 23, 2013, at the Briarleaf Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Doylestown, Pa. He was 83. Relatives and friends are invited to his viewing on Saturday, April 27, from 1 to 2 p.m. at Reed and Steinbach Funeral Home, 2335 Lower State Road, Doylestown, Pa. 18901. Burial will be private. Visit reedandsteinbach.com. Born in New York, Mr. Bell was the son of the late Francis and Mabel Bell. He was also the brother of the late Francis Bell. David grew up in the Caldwells, attending school there, and then finishing his education at the University of Alabama. He served his country honorably with the U.S. Marines during the Korean War. David was a member of the West Caldwell police department, rising up the ranks to acting chief. While a lieutenant, he graduated from the FBI National Academy, 110th Session, in Quantico, Va., in 1977. He retired from West Caldwell after serving for 28 years. He then became the chief of police in Deerfield, Mass., for the next 13 years. He attended both the N.J. State Police and FBI Academies forensic art courses, eventually doing forensic art drawings for various Massachusetts communities as a composite artist. He retired from the Deerfield Police Department in 1994. While in Deerfield, he was a member and president of the South Deerfield Rotary Club and served as the president of the Western Massachusetts Chiefs of Police. David was an amazing artist and enjoyed doing watercolor and oil paintings, as well as wood carvings. Much of his free time was spent at Stratton Mountain, Vt., with his wife and family. David will be greatly missed by his loving wife of 51 years, Elizabeth "Chip" Bell; his beloved son, Dr. John D. Bell and his wife, Joanne L. Bell of Bedminster, Pa., and four grandchildren, Justin, Jessica, Jason, and Jillian Csaszar, also of Bedminster. In lieu of flowers, donations in David's honor may be made to the Grace Cottage Hospital, 185 Grafton Road, Townshend, Vt. 05353, or Briarleaf Nursing and Rehabilitation Activities, 252 Belmont Ave., Doylestown, Pa. 18901.