Virginia Marsh Bell died peacefully at the age of 100 in her home on the evening of April 8, 2023, with family at her side and with plans for the Easter service the next morning. She was born June 30, 1922, in Harrison County, KY, daughter of Harry and Laura Marsh. The second of seven children, she worked alongside her father on the family farm where she learned both the value and joys of working hard for a goal. She often reflected that her childhood was rich in lessons for successful aging: teamwork, importance of conservation, how to be in community, being persistent while working for a worthy cause, and living in harmony with those who have a different tradition or opinion.
Virginia was known for her energy, compassion, and drive for lifelong learning. A member of her beloved Jump Start exercise class at the High Street YMCA wrote, "You will always be a part of us. The part that implores us to keep going, doing, learning, and challenging ourselves to be better, go higher, and love everyone!"
Virginia graduated as valedictorian from Buena Vista High School, Harrison County, KY and from Transylvania University. In 1944, she married her college sweetheart, Wayne H. Bell, and they enjoyed 73 years together until he died in 2017 at the age of 97. They celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary by traveling across Russia, nine days and eight time zones, on the Trans-Siberian Railway.
After raising a family of five children and volunteering in the church and community, Virginia returned to graduate school at age sixty and received her Masters of Social Work from the University of Kentucky. She later joined the staff of the Alzheimer's Disease Research Center, Sanders Brown Center on Aging, as a family counselor and helped organize the first support group for families living with Alzheimer's disease in the state. She also helped establish a network of family services throughout Kentucky, counseled hundreds of families as a part of the University Memory Disorder Clinic, and served on the first Governor's Task Force on Alzheimer's Disease.
Virginia gained wide acclaim for her work in adult day care, developing one of the first dementia-specific adult day programs in the country, using a unique method of care based on friendship, known as the Best Friends Approach. This approach is celebrated for its positive philosophy stressing dignity and techniques for success when facing a challenging disease.
In 1992, she was awarded an honorary doctorate from Transylvania University. In 1999, she received the Senior Award from the American Society on Aging for her dedication to the significant contribution that older persons can make to society. She was inducted into the UK Social Work Hall of Fame and received the Sullivan Award from the University of Kentucky in 2004. In 2022, at the age of 100, she received an honorary doctorate from University of Kentucky.
Throughout her career, she penned numerous articles and books and lectured both nationally and internationally on the Best Friends approach to dementia care, as well as on spirituality and aging with Wayne. They were proud to have visited forty countries around the globe during their adventuresome years together.
Until the time of her death, Virginia remained deeply engaged in the lives of others and joyfully curious about the wonders of the natural world. "I'm not afraid to die," she said just days before her death, "but I'm not ready yet."
Virginia is survived by her siblings, Rees Wilcox, Joy Rice, Jack Marsh (Ruby), and Gay Perrin, and by her children, Brenda Bell, Marsha Uselton (Terry), Laura Bell (David Beckett) and Kendall Bell (Linda); grand-children: Laura Bogle (Katie Goslee), Anna Bogle, Maggie Bogle (Pete Shriner) , Nathan Uselton (Andrea), Beth Uselton (Chad Winn), Sarah Hellevang (David), Jane Bell (Gabe Fancher), Amy Bey (Jeremy), Melissa Jaggers (Tommy) and Miles Bell (Alex); and great grand-children: Johanna, Elliot, and Willa Goslee-Bogle, Wiley and Mavis Shriner, Dagon, Kelsey, and Kaden Uselton, Virginia and Boden Winn, August and Graham Bey, Isaac, Eliza, Caleb, Jonathon, and Haddie Jaggers, and Bennett Bell.
She was pre-deceased by her husband, Wayne H. Bell, her son, David Bell (Carol), grand-children Jennifer Little and Luke Bell, and siblings Margaret Smith and Faith Blumenfeld. The family wishes to thank the generous staff at Home Instead and Bluegrass Care Navigators Hospice for their loving care and attention.
A memorial service will be held at Central Christian Church, Lexington, KY, at 2:00 Saturday, May 13, with a reception to follow. Milward Funeral Directors are entrusted with Virginia's arrangements. Contributions in Virginia's honor and memory may be made to: The Virginia Bell Best Friends Endowment Fund, Christian Care Communities, 12710 Townepark Way, Louisville, KY 40243 or Central Christian Church, 219 East Short Street, Lexington, KY 40507 or to a charity of your choosing that exemplifies Virginia's work and spirit.
To share a remembrance of Virginia or offer condolences to her family, please visit milwardfuneral.com to sign the online guest book.
Virginia was known for her energy, compassion, and drive for lifelong learning. A member of her beloved Jump Start exercise class at the High Street YMCA wrote, "You will always be a part of us. The part that implores us to keep going, doing, learning, and challenging ourselves to be better, go higher, and love everyone!"
Virginia graduated as valedictorian from Buena Vista High School, Harrison County, KY and from Transylvania University. In 1944, she married her college sweetheart, Wayne H. Bell, and they enjoyed 73 years together until he died in 2017 at the age of 97. They celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary by traveling across Russia, nine days and eight time zones, on the Trans-Siberian Railway.
After raising a family of five children and volunteering in the church and community, Virginia returned to graduate school at age sixty and received her Masters of Social Work from the University of Kentucky. She later joined the staff of the Alzheimer's Disease Research Center, Sanders Brown Center on Aging, as a family counselor and helped organize the first support group for families living with Alzheimer's disease in the state. She also helped establish a network of family services throughout Kentucky, counseled hundreds of families as a part of the University Memory Disorder Clinic, and served on the first Governor's Task Force on Alzheimer's Disease.
Virginia gained wide acclaim for her work in adult day care, developing one of the first dementia-specific adult day programs in the country, using a unique method of care based on friendship, known as the Best Friends Approach. This approach is celebrated for its positive philosophy stressing dignity and techniques for success when facing a challenging disease.
In 1992, she was awarded an honorary doctorate from Transylvania University. In 1999, she received the Senior Award from the American Society on Aging for her dedication to the significant contribution that older persons can make to society. She was inducted into the UK Social Work Hall of Fame and received the Sullivan Award from the University of Kentucky in 2004. In 2022, at the age of 100, she received an honorary doctorate from University of Kentucky.
Throughout her career, she penned numerous articles and books and lectured both nationally and internationally on the Best Friends approach to dementia care, as well as on spirituality and aging with Wayne. They were proud to have visited forty countries around the globe during their adventuresome years together.
Until the time of her death, Virginia remained deeply engaged in the lives of others and joyfully curious about the wonders of the natural world. "I'm not afraid to die," she said just days before her death, "but I'm not ready yet."
Virginia is survived by her siblings, Rees Wilcox, Joy Rice, Jack Marsh (Ruby), and Gay Perrin, and by her children, Brenda Bell, Marsha Uselton (Terry), Laura Bell (David Beckett) and Kendall Bell (Linda); grand-children: Laura Bogle (Katie Goslee), Anna Bogle, Maggie Bogle (Pete Shriner) , Nathan Uselton (Andrea), Beth Uselton (Chad Winn), Sarah Hellevang (David), Jane Bell (Gabe Fancher), Amy Bey (Jeremy), Melissa Jaggers (Tommy) and Miles Bell (Alex); and great grand-children: Johanna, Elliot, and Willa Goslee-Bogle, Wiley and Mavis Shriner, Dagon, Kelsey, and Kaden Uselton, Virginia and Boden Winn, August and Graham Bey, Isaac, Eliza, Caleb, Jonathon, and Haddie Jaggers, and Bennett Bell.
She was pre-deceased by her husband, Wayne H. Bell, her son, David Bell (Carol), grand-children Jennifer Little and Luke Bell, and siblings Margaret Smith and Faith Blumenfeld. The family wishes to thank the generous staff at Home Instead and Bluegrass Care Navigators Hospice for their loving care and attention.
A memorial service will be held at Central Christian Church, Lexington, KY, at 2:00 Saturday, May 13, with a reception to follow. Milward Funeral Directors are entrusted with Virginia's arrangements. Contributions in Virginia's honor and memory may be made to: The Virginia Bell Best Friends Endowment Fund, Christian Care Communities, 12710 Townepark Way, Louisville, KY 40243 or Central Christian Church, 219 East Short Street, Lexington, KY 40507 or to a charity of your choosing that exemplifies Virginia's work and spirit.
To share a remembrance of Virginia or offer condolences to her family, please visit milwardfuneral.com to sign the online guest book.
Virginia Marsh Bell died peacefully at the age of 100 in her home on the evening of April 8, 2023, with family at her side and with plans for the Easter service the next morning. She was born June 30, 1922, in Harrison County, KY, daughter of Harry and Laura Marsh. The second of seven children, she worked alongside her father on the family farm where she learned both the value and joys of working hard for a goal. She often reflected that her childhood was rich in lessons for successful aging: teamwork, importance of conservation, how to be in community, being persistent while working for a worthy cause, and living in harmony with those who have a different tradition or opinion.
Virginia was known for her energy, compassion, and drive for lifelong learning. A member of her beloved Jump Start exercise class at the High Street YMCA wrote, "You will always be a part of us. The part that implores us to keep going, doing, learning, and challenging ourselves to be better, go higher, and love everyone!"
Virginia graduated as valedictorian from Buena Vista High School, Harrison County, KY and from Transylvania University. In 1944, she married her college sweetheart, Wayne H. Bell, and they enjoyed 73 years together until he died in 2017 at the age of 97. They celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary by traveling across Russia, nine days and eight time zones, on the Trans-Siberian Railway.
After raising a family of five children and volunteering in the church and community, Virginia returned to graduate school at age sixty and received her Masters of Social Work from the University of Kentucky. She later joined the staff of the Alzheimer's Disease Research Center, Sanders Brown Center on Aging, as a family counselor and helped organize the first support group for families living with Alzheimer's disease in the state. She also helped establish a network of family services throughout Kentucky, counseled hundreds of families as a part of the University Memory Disorder Clinic, and served on the first Governor's Task Force on Alzheimer's Disease.
Virginia gained wide acclaim for her work in adult day care, developing one of the first dementia-specific adult day programs in the country, using a unique method of care based on friendship, known as the Best Friends Approach. This approach is celebrated for its positive philosophy stressing dignity and techniques for success when facing a challenging disease.
In 1992, she was awarded an honorary doctorate from Transylvania University. In 1999, she received the Senior Award from the American Society on Aging for her dedication to the significant contribution that older persons can make to society. She was inducted into the UK Social Work Hall of Fame and received the Sullivan Award from the University of Kentucky in 2004. In 2022, at the age of 100, she received an honorary doctorate from University of Kentucky.
Throughout her career, she penned numerous articles and books and lectured both nationally and internationally on the Best Friends approach to dementia care, as well as on spirituality and aging with Wayne. They were proud to have visited forty countries around the globe during their adventuresome years together.
Until the time of her death, Virginia remained deeply engaged in the lives of others and joyfully curious about the wonders of the natural world. "I'm not afraid to die," she said just days before her death, "but I'm not ready yet."
Virginia is survived by her siblings, Rees Wilcox, Joy Rice, Jack Marsh (Ruby), and Gay Perrin, and by her children, Brenda Bell, Marsha Uselton (Terry), Laura Bell (David Beckett) and Kendall Bell (Linda); grand-children: Laura Bogle (Katie Goslee), Anna Bogle, Maggie Bogle (Pete Shriner) , Nathan Uselton (Andrea), Beth Uselton (Chad Winn), Sarah Hellevang (David), Jane Bell (Gabe Fancher), Amy Bey (Jeremy), Melissa Jaggers (Tommy) and Miles Bell (Alex); and great grand-children: Johanna, Elliot, and Willa Goslee-Bogle, Wiley and Mavis Shriner, Dagon, Kelsey, and Kaden Uselton, Virginia and Boden Winn, August and Graham Bey, Isaac, Eliza, Caleb, Jonathon, and Haddie Jaggers, and Bennett Bell.
She was pre-deceased by her husband, Wayne H. Bell, her son, David Bell (Carol), grand-children Jennifer Little and Luke Bell, and siblings Margaret Smith and Faith Blumenfeld. The family wishes to thank the generous staff at Home Instead and Bluegrass Care Navigators Hospice for their loving care and attention.
A memorial service will be held at Central Christian Church, Lexington, KY, at 2:00 Saturday, May 13, with a reception to follow. Milward Funeral Directors are entrusted with Virginia's arrangements. Contributions in Virginia's honor and memory may be made to: The Virginia Bell Best Friends Endowment Fund, Christian Care Communities, 12710 Townepark Way, Louisville, KY 40243 or Central Christian Church, 219 East Short Street, Lexington, KY 40507 or to a charity of your choosing that exemplifies Virginia's work and spirit.
To share a remembrance of Virginia or offer condolences to her family, please visit milwardfuneral.com to sign the online guest book.
Virginia was known for her energy, compassion, and drive for lifelong learning. A member of her beloved Jump Start exercise class at the High Street YMCA wrote, "You will always be a part of us. The part that implores us to keep going, doing, learning, and challenging ourselves to be better, go higher, and love everyone!"
Virginia graduated as valedictorian from Buena Vista High School, Harrison County, KY and from Transylvania University. In 1944, she married her college sweetheart, Wayne H. Bell, and they enjoyed 73 years together until he died in 2017 at the age of 97. They celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary by traveling across Russia, nine days and eight time zones, on the Trans-Siberian Railway.
After raising a family of five children and volunteering in the church and community, Virginia returned to graduate school at age sixty and received her Masters of Social Work from the University of Kentucky. She later joined the staff of the Alzheimer's Disease Research Center, Sanders Brown Center on Aging, as a family counselor and helped organize the first support group for families living with Alzheimer's disease in the state. She also helped establish a network of family services throughout Kentucky, counseled hundreds of families as a part of the University Memory Disorder Clinic, and served on the first Governor's Task Force on Alzheimer's Disease.
Virginia gained wide acclaim for her work in adult day care, developing one of the first dementia-specific adult day programs in the country, using a unique method of care based on friendship, known as the Best Friends Approach. This approach is celebrated for its positive philosophy stressing dignity and techniques for success when facing a challenging disease.
In 1992, she was awarded an honorary doctorate from Transylvania University. In 1999, she received the Senior Award from the American Society on Aging for her dedication to the significant contribution that older persons can make to society. She was inducted into the UK Social Work Hall of Fame and received the Sullivan Award from the University of Kentucky in 2004. In 2022, at the age of 100, she received an honorary doctorate from University of Kentucky.
Throughout her career, she penned numerous articles and books and lectured both nationally and internationally on the Best Friends approach to dementia care, as well as on spirituality and aging with Wayne. They were proud to have visited forty countries around the globe during their adventuresome years together.
Until the time of her death, Virginia remained deeply engaged in the lives of others and joyfully curious about the wonders of the natural world. "I'm not afraid to die," she said just days before her death, "but I'm not ready yet."
Virginia is survived by her siblings, Rees Wilcox, Joy Rice, Jack Marsh (Ruby), and Gay Perrin, and by her children, Brenda Bell, Marsha Uselton (Terry), Laura Bell (David Beckett) and Kendall Bell (Linda); grand-children: Laura Bogle (Katie Goslee), Anna Bogle, Maggie Bogle (Pete Shriner) , Nathan Uselton (Andrea), Beth Uselton (Chad Winn), Sarah Hellevang (David), Jane Bell (Gabe Fancher), Amy Bey (Jeremy), Melissa Jaggers (Tommy) and Miles Bell (Alex); and great grand-children: Johanna, Elliot, and Willa Goslee-Bogle, Wiley and Mavis Shriner, Dagon, Kelsey, and Kaden Uselton, Virginia and Boden Winn, August and Graham Bey, Isaac, Eliza, Caleb, Jonathon, and Haddie Jaggers, and Bennett Bell.
She was pre-deceased by her husband, Wayne H. Bell, her son, David Bell (Carol), grand-children Jennifer Little and Luke Bell, and siblings Margaret Smith and Faith Blumenfeld. The family wishes to thank the generous staff at Home Instead and Bluegrass Care Navigators Hospice for their loving care and attention.
A memorial service will be held at Central Christian Church, Lexington, KY, at 2:00 Saturday, May 13, with a reception to follow. Milward Funeral Directors are entrusted with Virginia's arrangements. Contributions in Virginia's honor and memory may be made to: The Virginia Bell Best Friends Endowment Fund, Christian Care Communities, 12710 Townepark Way, Louisville, KY 40243 or Central Christian Church, 219 East Short Street, Lexington, KY 40507 or to a charity of your choosing that exemplifies Virginia's work and spirit.
To share a remembrance of Virginia or offer condolences to her family, please visit milwardfuneral.com to sign the online guest book.
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