Robert Gordon Bell

1928 - 2017

Robert Gordon Bell, age 88, died Monday, June 26, 2017 at Hospice Savannah, Inc. Bob was born in Jacksonville, FL on October 16, 1928 to Edith Brown Bell and Seth Gordon Bell. In 1939 the family moved to Memphis, TN where he attended public schools and in 1947 graduated from Memphis Technical High School. In high school, he met Eunice Ann Herriman, the love of his life. They were married on Sept 16, 1950.

Bob graduated from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville in March of 1952 with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Chemical Engineering. He joined the DuPont Company on April 1, 1952 in Camden, NJ. Later that year he was transferred to the Savannah River Plant near Aiken, SC as a member of the original start up staff of the Nuclear Reactor Department. He had later assignments with DuPont in Fort Madison, IA, Columbia, TN and Flint, MI. Bob retired from DuPont in 1988 with 36 years service. He joined the Hercules Company in Savannah as Plant Engineer and retired in 1993. Bob was a licensed professional engineer in 4 states.

Bob became an art student at Armstrong State University in 1994, graduated in 2004, and was the oldest student on record to earn a Bachelor's degree in Fine Arts. His specialties were photography, sculpture, and painting which he practiced in his home studio and dark room. Bob and his wife Eunice enjoyed traveling throughout the world. They visited 45 of the 50 states and also Canada. Overseas travel included Europe, Russia, Turkey, Greece, China, Thailand, Singapore, Australia, and New Zealand.

Over his lifetime, Bob was a member of various churches. These included Presbyterian, Methodist, Unitarian and Episcopal. At his death, he was a member of Christ Church Episcopal Savannah and served on the Finance Committee. Bob's hobbies included fishing in earlier years, painting, online stock trading, golf, and running. In 2008, he won the first place in 80+ year old in the 10K Savannah Bridge Run. He was a member of the Senior Golf Blitz at Bacon Park Golf Club. He was always an enthusiastic fan of University of Tennessee sports and said he had "orange blood".

Bob is survived by his beloved Eunice, his wife of 66 years, and their three children: Nancy Bell and her husband Joseph Schneider of New York, Michael Bell and his husband Denny Drabelle of North Carolina, and Patricia Gunther and her husband Bruce Gunther of Michigan. Bob is remembered lovingly by his six grandchildren, Kayti Schneider Hernandez, Joseph Schneider, Emily Schneider Horjus, Ruben Vaughn IV, Amber Vaughn and Tara Vaughn, by his five great-grandchildren, Mikey, Timothy, Daniel, Marissa and Lucy, and by his sister-in-law Beverly Herriman and many nephews and nieces. Bob enjoyed a full and accomplished life with his wonderful wife, Eunice, his children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. He enjoyed sports, travel, engineering and art.

Visitation will be Thursday, June 29th, 2017 from 5-7 p.m. at Fox & Weeks Funeral Directors, (7200 Hodgson Memorial Dr.)

A service of remembrance will be held Friday, June 30th, 2017 at 2 p.m. at Christ Church Episcopal on Johnson Square, (28 Bull St.)

Remembrances may be given to Christ Church Episcopal Savannah or Hospice Savannah, Inc.

Please sign our online guestbook at www.foxandweeks.com