Rodger "Rod" Bell

1953 - 2026

RODGER "ROD" BELL

June 25, 1953 – February 16, 2026

Born John Charles Noah on June 25, 1953, Rodger (Rod) Coulter Bell was adopted shortly thereafter by Harold, a US Army WWII veteran, and Mary Bell, a middle school English teacher, joining his older sister Helen. Rod grew up on the east side of Bakersfield, California. His early middle-class upbringing included water skiing Lake Ming and trips to see Sandy Koufax and the LA Dodgers.

At 11, Rod lost his father in a drunk-driving accident and would never be the same. Rod played the drums and attended East Bakersfield High where he graduated in 1971. In high school, he was a member of concert choir and "The Jets," a group of musical friends that performed at rallies and other school events. A favorite memory of his youth was hiding in a closet at the Civic Auditorium to see the Rolling Stones perform.

In 1976, Rod married his first wife, Jerri and welcomed a son, Justin, in 1978. Rod and Justin camped together, hiked in Yosemite, listened to classic rock and grunge, played catch, and attended many Dodger games, including an Orel Hershiser rehab start in Bakersfield where they slept outside all night to be first in the gate. The Beatles and Eagles were the staple soundtrack for road trips, so Rod took Justin to his first Eagles concert in 1994.

In 1991, after back surgery, he went back to school to become a Respiratory Therapist, a career he worked in until he retired due to disability at 59. Rod worked as an RT in California, New Mexico, Michigan, Wisconsin, and conducted sleep studies in Alabama.

In 2010, Rod married Jaclynn, a nurse and fellow baseball fan, in Beaver Dam, Wisconsin. They later relocated to Utah and finally, Indiana to be closer to Jacki's family. Rod spent his free time attending Indianapolis Indians games as a season ticket holder, reading about current events, taking road trips, watching auto racing, discovering interesting restaurants like Ale Emporium, and visiting major and minor league baseball parks in at least 10 states.

A smoker for much of his life, Rod suffered from COPD and later developed the lung cancer that took his life. He will be remembered for his lighthearted attitude, love of music and drumming, his vast record and movie collections, and of course, Dodger Baseball.

Rod is survived by his wife Jacylnn, son and daughter-in-law Justin and Tiffany PierceBell, sister Helen and family, stepdaughter and husband Natalee and Mitchell Stafford, grandchildren Davin, Parker, Sullivan, and Tripp, countless friends, and most of the Rolling Stones.

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