Edwina Dedie Bell

1935 - 2018

Edwina Dedie Bell

Louisville - Edwina Dedie Bell, 83, passed away peacefully in Jeffersonville, IN on December 26, 2018. She was born to the late Edward and Leona Cavanaugh on January 3, 1935 in Jeffersonville, IN.

Edwina graduated from Sacred Heart, class of 1953 and married Lt. Colonel Douglas C. Bell in August of 1956. Together they had four children - Thomas Bell, Clifford Bell, Brenda (Bell) Schultz and Douglas Bell. She was an avid volunteer while the family moved among various military bases across the US. After her husband's retirement, the family moved back to Louisville.

She worked at several different retail establishments, notably the downtown Stewarts and finally retired from Macy's in 2011. Edwina put her longtime love of arts & crafts to work, displaying her work at the St. James Art Fair and other venues in the downtown area. She is remembered for her warm and open personality, seemingly never meeting a stranger, and her cooking (macaroni and cheese and mashed potatoes). She rarely left home without looking her best and always carried a good book (or two) with her.

Edwina is preceded in death by her husband Lt. Colonel Douglas C. Bell (USAF retired); her parents Edward Cavanaugh and Leona Traynor Cavanaugh; son Clifford Kenneth Bell; grandsons Glenn Thomas Schultz III and Kevin Alexander Schultz; sibling Phillip and uncle Patrick Cavanaugh.

She is survived by her daughter Brenda Schultz (Glenn); sons Tom Bell (Margaret) and Douglas Bell Jr. (Jennifer); grandchildren Rachel, Sean, Kevin, Courtney, Chad Bell, Matthew Floyd, Caitlin Davidson (Tim), Lauren, Sophie, Ruthanne, Josie Schultz, Emma Rose Strybel; and great-grandchild Ali Hockenbury along with sisters Joan Strybel, Careen Hammer (Chuck) and Martha Neumann (Jim).

The family would like to express their gratitude for the gentle and compassionate support provided by the staff of Hillcrest Village.

A funeral service will be held at 12:00 pm on Friday, January 4, 2019 at Ratterman Brothers Funeral Home, 12900 Shelbyville Road, East Louisville. The family will receive visitors from 2:00-8:00 pm on Thursday, January 3, 2019 at the funeral home. A private burial will be held at a later date at Calvary Cemetery.