Arthur F. Bell

Chaplain Col. Ret. Arthur F. Bell, Sr., 73, passed away after an extended illness on Friday, March 30, 2007, in San Antonio. He was born in Washington College Station, TN, to Dexter and Josie Bell. Arthur Duck was a military brat and graduated from Yokahoma High School, Japan and kept up with former classmates throughout later years. He graduated from East Tennessee State, Johnson City, TN in 1955, and from Southern Baptist Seminary, Louisville, KY in 1958. During those years, he pastored Bethel Baptist Church in Johnson City, and Victory Baptist Church in Shepardsville, KY. He was on the staff and faculty of the US Army Chaplain School, Ft. Wadsworth, NY. As an Army Chaplain, he served two tours in Germany during the Berlin crisis, in the Dominican Republic, and four campaigns in Vietnam. For his service, he was awarded the Bronze Star and the Legion of Merit. He earned his CPE certification from Baptist Health Systems in San Antonio. Following his retirement, he continued to serve as a chaplain for Air Force Village I for the next 7-1/2 years. Art was an aviation enthusiast until he was medically unable to fly. He built his own EAA plane called Â"Flybaby.Â" Once grounded, he became an R.C. modelist and he taught many the artistry of flying. A member of Trinity Baptist Church, his love of family, God, and flying were never questioned. He was preceded in death by his parents, Dexter and Josie Bell, and brothers, Larry C., and Howard D. Bell. He is survived by his wife of nearly 54 years, Iris Queener Bell of Lake City, TN; children Arthur F. Jr. and special friend Judy Miller, SFC Duane T. Bell Ret and wife Shiela, and Mark S. Bell, Sharon and husband Donald Ingram, and Patricia Â"TrishaÂ" and husband Stephen Amerson; daughter-in-law, Linda Crowley-Bell; grandchildren, Christopher and wife Christina, Jonathan and Allison Ingram, Karl and wife Danette, Rebecca and Stephen Jr., Megan and Jacob Amerson, Jason Bell and Kyndall Crowley; four great-grandchildren; sisters, Carol and husband Stan Shank, and Linda and husband Wayne Raynor; sister-in-law Jean Bell, and numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial contributions be made to the American Diabetes Association, 8918 Tesoro Dr., Suite 575, San Antonio, TX, 78217; the American Heart Association, P.O. Box 15186, Austin, TX 78761; or the Disabled American Veterans, Memorial Program, P.O. Box 14301, Cincinnati, OH 45250.