of Conway, AR

May 6, 1930 - January 16, 2022

Antonio (Tony) Zamora Bello, Jr. gained his angel wings on January 16, 2022. He lived a long life full of global adventures which involved his family, his passion for animals, and his ''gang'' at the zoo. During his last years, he cherished every get together with friends and family, often including updates in his weekly emails about how these moments made his day.

Tony was born on May 6, 1930 in San Manuel, Pangasinan, Philippines. He graduated Salutatorian from San Narciso, Zambales High School in the Philippines and then graduated Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering from National University in Manila in 1954 where he was voted Most Outstanding Male Student of the Year.

Tony married Sonia Castillo Reyes in September of 1961 and at that time, called Marikina, Rizal home. The family, now including three daughters, Laura, Pauline and Cecile, immigrated to Canada in 1968 where their son Joel was born. In 1970, sponsored by Kimberly Clark, the family moved to the U.S., first living in Munising, Michigan and seven years later to Conway, Arkansas which has been home since 1978. While living in Conway, Tony earned his MBA from the University of Central Arkansas before retiring from Kimberly Clark in 1994.

In 2003, Tony began his ''second career'' as a Docent (volunteer educator) at the Little Rock Zoo. With his zoo family, Tony traveled to many zoos around the country and the world documenting every animal with photos and natural history information so that future volunteers would not have to gather this information themselves. He used to pass this information to all new docents as a reward for graduation. He never asked for anything in return saying that being at the zoo with friends was all the reward he needed. He was legendary for always providing chocolate snacks or a fun story about his childhood in the Philippines.

If you were to talk to his family, they would say that Lolo (his family nickname) always had a story to share which would likely include statistics or some other research that he had conducted. As an amateur photographer, he could be counted on to document family get togethers where he also continued his love of chocolate distribution. Whenever possible he would host family and friends at ''his'' zoo, helping them grow to love all the animals, but especially all the creepy crawly insects and reptiles, which if you shared any fear or phobia for he would ensure pictures of them made it into his regular family emails where he would also document his health and most recent happenings in his life.

Tony was preceded in death by his parents Antonio Estavillo Bello and Demetria Bodomo Zamora; two sisters Liling de Asis and Judith Diñoso, and a brother Ricarte Bello.

His is survived by two sisters, Emma Sta. Rosa and Mila Alberto; three daughters, Laura Bello of San Francisco, CA; Pauline Mohler (Mark) of Bentonville, AR; Cecile Bello of Conway, AR; two sons, Joel Bello (Dawn) and Nicholas Bello of Conway, AR; six grandchildren Kirstyn Dewsnup (Alex), Reese Tureman, Azai Tureman, Meredith Mohler, Katelyn Bello and Noah England. He had a number of relatives and a whole host of friends around the world that will miss him dearly, included his beloved family at the Little Rock Zoo. All who have been touched by Tony will miss his kindness, generosity and insight.

Visitation will be held on Saturday, January 22, 2022 at noon, followed by a Funeral Mass at 1 p.m. Central Time at St. Joseph Catholic Church, 1115 College Ave, Conway, AR. This will also be livestreamed via the St. Joseph Catholic Church YouTube Channel. Interment will take place following mass and the family invites friends for a meal at St. Joseph parish afterwards.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that a memorial gift may be made to:

Arkansas Zoological Foundation
c/o Susan Harris, in memory of Tony Bello
1 Zoo Drive
Little Rock, AR 72205

Or online at
LR Zoo Donation

Obituary Provided By:
Roller-McNutt Funeral Home
650 Central Landing Blvd.
Conway, AR  72032
www.rollerfuneralhomes.com