of Batesville, AR
October 27, 1922 - January 3, 2014
Dr. Rufus Eugene "Red" Bell died at his home in Batesville, Arkansas, on Friday, January 3, 2014. He was the fifth of nine children born to Rufus Marvin and Lizzie Cowling Bell of Mineral Springs, Arkansas, on October 27, 1922.
Preceding him in death besides his parents were brothers Lonnie Bell, Louis Bell and Glenn Bell and sisters Alene Corbell and Bonnie Cowling, all of Mineral Springs, Arkansas.
Survivors include his wife of 63 years, Polly Lenehan Bell; three sons: David Eugene Bell (Mary Ann) of Batesville, Arkansas, Steven Lenehan Bell (Glenda) of Batesville, Arkansas, Michael Brent Bell (fiancé Debbie Dodds) of Galveston, Texas; five grandchildren: Christopher Bell (Acker) of Little Rock, Arkansas; Megan Bouchareb (Mar) of Austin, Texas; Danny Bell (Debra) of Batesville, Arkansas; Steven Bell, Jr. (Ann) of Charleston, South Carolina; and John Bell of Rogers, Arkansas; three great-grandchildren, Penick, Sullivan and Rufus; two brothers, Francis Bell and Clyde Bell, both of Mineral Springs, Arkansas, and a sister Joyce Hesselbein of Benton, Arkansas. He is also survived by many nieces and nephews.
After serving in the Army Air Force during World War II, he entered Arkansas State Teachers College, now UCA, where he lettered in multiple sports. He then continued on to the University of Arkansas earning a Master's Degree in Administration. After teaching and coaching basketball and football in Camden, Arkansas, for several years, he married Polly Lenehan of Batesville, Arkansas, and they moved to Kansas City, Missouri, where he entered the University of Missouri, School of Dentistry. Upon obtaining his DDS Degree in 1956, he came to Batesville and entered dental practice with Dr. R. A. Craig. Dr. Bell was an active member of the Arkansas Dental Association for many years.
Dr. Bell was active in community affairs, having served for several years on the Batesville School Board, the Chamber of Commerce and other civic organizations. He was active in the First Presbyterian Church where he served as deacon, elder and member of the Board of Trustees.
In the year 2000, he and his business partner Howard House were awarded the Community Development Award for the year. In 2004, he and Mr. House built The Course at Eagle Mountain, the first 18-hole golf course in Independence County.
The burial service will be private. A memorial service will be held at the First Presbyterian Church, 775 E. Boswell Street, Batesville, Arkansas, on Saturday, January 11, 2014, at 11 a.m.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials be made to the First Presbyterian Church, 775 E. Boswell Street, Batesville, AR 72501 or to the Bell-Lenehan Scholarship Fund at Lyon College, 2300 Highland, Batesville, AR 72501
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19 Condolence(s)
John Jeter
Saturday, January 11, 2014
Our thoughts are with your family now. Mr. Red's obituary relays a man that has enriched not only his own life, but all of those that have had the pleasure of being a part of it. It is the depth of our footprints in life that mark the life we've lead. Mr. Red's legacy will live on from his well-traveled path.
Paul and Sharon Strecker
Friday, January 10, 2014
Your family is in our prayers. Dr. Bell was a very wonderful person, the type of person you would want on your side. Several years ago on Christmas Day, our sons caught a coyote in a steel trap and he let them take it out to his farm and release it, and when our youngest son Bryan worked at the golf course, he was always telling us things that Dr. Bell told him, and appreciated how he was treated him. God bless each one of you, hold on to your memories.
Karen McShane
Thursday, January 9, 2014
My thoughts and prayers are with all of you at this time.
Dr. Bell was just the most wonderful , smiling, cheerful person. No matter if his day wasn't going right,," NO ONE KNEW IT"! He always had a smile and warm greeting for me, no matter where he saw me. . He was my first dentist fifty-five years ago and could still call me by my first name , fifty five years later.
My fond memories of going to see him as my dentist was when he would have to pull a rotten tooth , he would always have Ona ,wrap my tooth up and before leaving he would tell me the tooth fairy would leave me money if I would put it under my pillow. He never lied, the tooth fairy always left me money!!!.
I only wish I had told him what a wonderful person he was before his passing.. He will be missed by all who knew him.
He will be missed by all who knew him.
Tim Stewart
Tuesday, January 7, 2014
Was sorry to hear of his passing. He was my childhood dentist and always good to me. Our thoughts and prayers are with you during this time of loss.
Nick & Katrina Fudge
Tuesday, January 7, 2014
I am sorry for your loss. It is very difficult loosing a parent. But just think of all the wonderful memories you have!! No one can ever take that away from you. You are all in our thoughts and prayers.
Alma Ward
Tuesday, January 7, 2014
Dear Steve, Mrs Bell, & Bell Family,
My Thoughts and prayers are with each of you. I know Dr. Bell, is at peace now.
I thought of Ed, when i heard the news. He thought so much of Dr. Bell, and they had lots of visits by phone and at the coffee shop. Talking about food plots for the quail and of course hunting.
Also about their health problems as they both had the same heart surgery. I'm sure they are catching up in heaven now.
God bless each of you.
Alma Ward
John & Betty Ann Wyatt
Tuesday, January 7, 2014
We are so sorry to her of Dr. Bell's passing. He was our dentist years ago and was always very kind. We will be praying for you during this time.
David and Cindy Pankey
Tuesday, January 7, 2014
David and Steve,
We are thinking of you and your family in this time of sorrow. We didn't really know your dad but consider both of you a friend. Stay strong for your mom.
David and Cindy Pankey
Kay Stice
Tuesday, January 7, 2014
He will be missed by all who knew him. He was my first dentist and a family friend. It was always fun listening to him share stories about people we both knew, and he always had good stories! Thanks for sharing him with all of us. He will be missed.
Cindy Moore
Tuesday, January 7, 2014
What an honor it was to have worked with Dr. Bell when we lived in Batesville. I will always admired his love for people and the hard work he did. I have told many of my patients about how he would drive his red truck to work and his dog would stay there all day until he got ready to leave for the farm. My prayers go out to the family on the loss of such a man. God Bless.
Resa Crews Bolin - Farm Service Agency
Tuesday, January 7, 2014
My thoughts and prayers are with this family.
May God give you comfort and the memories give you a smile to know how much he loved each of you.
Jo Stephens
Monday, January 6, 2014
Sorry to hear of your Dad's death. You will be in my thoughts and prayers. May God bless each of you!
Charles & Anne Allen
Monday, January 6, 2014
Dr. Bell was a Great family man, and a friend to many. We are sorry to learn of his passing. You are in our thoughts and prayers.
Charles F. and Anne Allen
Mary Lou Oliver & Lou Murphy
Monday, January 6, 2014
We are so sorry about Dr. Bell's death. All of you are in our thoughts and prayers. Love, Lou and Mary Lou
Holly Williams Giblin
Monday, January 6, 2014
The Williams and the Giblin families send their heartfelt condolences for the loss of Dr. Red Bell. We feel privileged to have known such a great and wonderful man. We know he will be missed but that he will live on in the hearts of all of his family and friends and that he leaves a legacy of intelligence, goodness and kindness, plus an excellent sense humor and a joy for life to his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Bryan & Laura Anderson
Monday, January 6, 2014
We are so sorry to hear of Dr. Bell's passing. He was such a kind person. Our thoughts and prayers are with you during this time.
In Christ,
Bryan, Laura & Marley Anderson
Harlon & Shirley Martin
Sunday, January 5, 2014
Family of Dr. Bell.
Dr. Bell was a wonderful man. We are sorry to hear about his passing. You are in our thoughts and prayers.
Scott and Myra Wood
Sunday, January 5, 2014
Our loss is Heaven's gain. I bet there are plenty of good bird dogs and lots of quail to hunt up there! I can't think of Dr. Bell without thinking of his enthusiasm for what he loved. He will be missed.
Jim & Brenda Terral
Saturday, January 4, 2014
We are sorry to hear of your Dad's death. We will always have fond memories of him. You will be in our thoughts and prayers.