Wilma Bell

1934 - 2024

Wilma Bell

Wilma Ann Shaffer Bell was born on June 7, 1934 in Salem, OH to Hugh and Margaret Shaffer and died on August 27, 2024 in Richmond, VA. She was preceded in death by her husband, Jack and her parents. She married her high school sweetheart, John J. Bell "Jack" in June of 1954. After giving birth to their daughter Vicki, she lived in Chicago and attended Elmhurst College and Northwestern University to work on her degree in English. She spent her winters in Tuscon, AZ, where her husband taught golf. In 1970 she and her family moved to San Diego where she attended UCSD to complete her Masters Degree in English and was a substitute teacher at La Jolla High School. From 1978 to 1980 she lived in West Virginia where her husband was Director of Golf at The Greenbrier. In 1980 she and her family moved to Richmond, VA, where she was head of the English department at Fairfield Middle School. Upon retirement she spent her time as a creative writer and was a member of the James River Writers Group. She loved traveling and spending time with her two cats. She is survived by her daughter, Vicki Fowler (son-in-law, Mark Fowler); grandson, Alex (wife, Katie); and great-grandson, Jack.

A Celebration of Life will be held at Westminster Canterbury Richmond on Tuesday, September 3, 2024 at 3 p.m. Visitation will be held 12 to 1 p.m. at Van Dyke-Swaney-Rettig Funeral Home, East Palestine, OH, on Thursday, September 5th with burial at Glenview Cemetery shortly after the visitation. The family thanks Josephine Villamera and all the health care staff of Westminister Canterbury Richmond for their loving care over the last three years. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Westminister Canterbury Employee Christmas Fund.