Wesley Clark Bell
1926 - 2016
VETERAN
❦ Early Life: Wesley was born July 13, 1926, in Oakley, Idaho, to Ephraim and Sylvia Clark Bell. He was the ninth of eleven children. As a child, his family moved to the small community of Unity where he enjoyed playing along the banks of the Snake River with his older brothers. Later, the family moved into Burley where Wesley graduated from Burley High School. He excelled in sports and said that his favorite sport was whichever one he was playing. He wasn't very big for football and basketball but he was fast, receiving several athletic awards. Serving as student body president his senior year, he missed his high school graduation as he was drafted into the military a few months before, along with 12 others boys in his class.
❦ Life's Work | Service | Interests: Leaving his high school sweetheart, Virginia Manning, he entered the United States Navy on February 21, 1945, serving on the Cruiser USS Miami until the end of World War II. Returning home, he attended SICE, Southern Idaho College of Education, at Albion, Idaho, completing his BA of Education in three years. He continued playing football and basketball while at SICE. On June 6, 1947, Wesley married Virginia in the Salt Lake Temple. He enjoyed teaching and coaching in Heyburn and Burley Idaho before moving his family to California to complete his master's degree at UCLA. He worked for 33 years as a teacher and high school counselor in the Downey Unified School District. He also worked evenings for 25 years at the Downey Adult School. Wanting to be closer to their children and grandchildren, they moved to Kent, Washington, in 1990, making it home for 24 years. In 2014, they moved to Orem, Utah, with their son Cory and his family. An active member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Wesley served in various church callings. His favorite was that of bishop. He loved caring for his ward family in the Downey 2nd Ward, and they loved him. He also served many years in the stake high council. He and Virginia had long desired to serve a mission together. After serving as ordinance workers at the Los Angeles California Temple, they were called to the Florida Jacksonville Mission. He was a faithful home teacher and truly watched over those he served. He was humbled when called as patriarch of the Kent Washington Stake. Wesley was happy being outdoors and enjoyed gardening, fishing, and hunting. He learned much about cars from his older brother, Elwin, and became a good mechanic, which knowledge he later passed on to his boys. He loved his family and was always willing to help his children and grandchildren. Wesley Clark Bell, of Orem, Utah, passed away at home on Monday March 21, 2016, due to complications of Alzheimer's disease. He was 89.
❦ Survived By: His loving wife, Virginia; four children: Bonnie (Jerry) Curtis, Marsha Ballantyne, Cory Wesley (Patti) Bell, and Kevin Manning (Terry) Bell; his sisters: Melba Ann Yost and Arlene (DeVerl) Richins. Their descendants include 20 grandchildren and 46 great grandchildren.
❦ Preceded In Death By: His parents; brothers: George Edward, Clark Ephraim, Hyrum Ezra, LaVern Clark, Theo Clark and Warren Clark; sister, Mary Maurine Warner; son-in-law, Jon Ballantyne (Marsha); and great granddaughter, Sydney Sargent.
❦ Arrangements & Obituary: © Walker Sanderson Funeral Home
❦ Services: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
❦ Location: Orem 6th Ward Chapel | Orem, Utah
❦ Interment: Pleasant View Cemetery
❦ Military Honors: Fully Accorded
Bio compiled by: Annie Duckett Hundley
1926 - 2016
VETERAN
❦ Early Life: Wesley was born July 13, 1926, in Oakley, Idaho, to Ephraim and Sylvia Clark Bell. He was the ninth of eleven children. As a child, his family moved to the small community of Unity where he enjoyed playing along the banks of the Snake River with his older brothers. Later, the family moved into Burley where Wesley graduated from Burley High School. He excelled in sports and said that his favorite sport was whichever one he was playing. He wasn't very big for football and basketball but he was fast, receiving several athletic awards. Serving as student body president his senior year, he missed his high school graduation as he was drafted into the military a few months before, along with 12 others boys in his class.
❦ Life's Work | Service | Interests: Leaving his high school sweetheart, Virginia Manning, he entered the United States Navy on February 21, 1945, serving on the Cruiser USS Miami until the end of World War II. Returning home, he attended SICE, Southern Idaho College of Education, at Albion, Idaho, completing his BA of Education in three years. He continued playing football and basketball while at SICE. On June 6, 1947, Wesley married Virginia in the Salt Lake Temple. He enjoyed teaching and coaching in Heyburn and Burley Idaho before moving his family to California to complete his master's degree at UCLA. He worked for 33 years as a teacher and high school counselor in the Downey Unified School District. He also worked evenings for 25 years at the Downey Adult School. Wanting to be closer to their children and grandchildren, they moved to Kent, Washington, in 1990, making it home for 24 years. In 2014, they moved to Orem, Utah, with their son Cory and his family. An active member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Wesley served in various church callings. His favorite was that of bishop. He loved caring for his ward family in the Downey 2nd Ward, and they loved him. He also served many years in the stake high council. He and Virginia had long desired to serve a mission together. After serving as ordinance workers at the Los Angeles California Temple, they were called to the Florida Jacksonville Mission. He was a faithful home teacher and truly watched over those he served. He was humbled when called as patriarch of the Kent Washington Stake. Wesley was happy being outdoors and enjoyed gardening, fishing, and hunting. He learned much about cars from his older brother, Elwin, and became a good mechanic, which knowledge he later passed on to his boys. He loved his family and was always willing to help his children and grandchildren. Wesley Clark Bell, of Orem, Utah, passed away at home on Monday March 21, 2016, due to complications of Alzheimer's disease. He was 89.
❦ Survived By: His loving wife, Virginia; four children: Bonnie (Jerry) Curtis, Marsha Ballantyne, Cory Wesley (Patti) Bell, and Kevin Manning (Terry) Bell; his sisters: Melba Ann Yost and Arlene (DeVerl) Richins. Their descendants include 20 grandchildren and 46 great grandchildren.
❦ Preceded In Death By: His parents; brothers: George Edward, Clark Ephraim, Hyrum Ezra, LaVern Clark, Theo Clark and Warren Clark; sister, Mary Maurine Warner; son-in-law, Jon Ballantyne (Marsha); and great granddaughter, Sydney Sargent.
❦ Arrangements & Obituary: © Walker Sanderson Funeral Home
❦ Services: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
❦ Location: Orem 6th Ward Chapel | Orem, Utah
❦ Interment: Pleasant View Cemetery
❦ Military Honors: Fully Accorded
Bio compiled by: Annie Duckett Hundley
Wesley Clark Bell
1926 - 2016
VETERAN
❦ Early Life: Wesley was born July 13, 1926, in Oakley, Idaho, to Ephraim and Sylvia Clark Bell. He was the ninth of eleven children. As a child, his family moved to the small community of Unity where he enjoyed playing along the banks of the Snake River with his older brothers. Later, the family moved into Burley where Wesley graduated from Burley High School. He excelled in sports and said that his favorite sport was whichever one he was playing. He wasn't very big for football and basketball but he was fast, receiving several athletic awards. Serving as student body president his senior year, he missed his high school graduation as he was drafted into the military a few months before, along with 12 others boys in his class.
❦ Life's Work | Service | Interests: Leaving his high school sweetheart, Virginia Manning, he entered the United States Navy on February 21, 1945, serving on the Cruiser USS Miami until the end of World War II. Returning home, he attended SICE, Southern Idaho College of Education, at Albion, Idaho, completing his BA of Education in three years. He continued playing football and basketball while at SICE. On June 6, 1947, Wesley married Virginia in the Salt Lake Temple. He enjoyed teaching and coaching in Heyburn and Burley Idaho before moving his family to California to complete his master's degree at UCLA. He worked for 33 years as a teacher and high school counselor in the Downey Unified School District. He also worked evenings for 25 years at the Downey Adult School. Wanting to be closer to their children and grandchildren, they moved to Kent, Washington, in 1990, making it home for 24 years. In 2014, they moved to Orem, Utah, with their son Cory and his family. An active member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Wesley served in various church callings. His favorite was that of bishop. He loved caring for his ward family in the Downey 2nd Ward, and they loved him. He also served many years in the stake high council. He and Virginia had long desired to serve a mission together. After serving as ordinance workers at the Los Angeles California Temple, they were called to the Florida Jacksonville Mission. He was a faithful home teacher and truly watched over those he served. He was humbled when called as patriarch of the Kent Washington Stake. Wesley was happy being outdoors and enjoyed gardening, fishing, and hunting. He learned much about cars from his older brother, Elwin, and became a good mechanic, which knowledge he later passed on to his boys. He loved his family and was always willing to help his children and grandchildren. Wesley Clark Bell, of Orem, Utah, passed away at home on Monday March 21, 2016, due to complications of Alzheimer's disease. He was 89.
❦ Survived By: His loving wife, Virginia; four children: Bonnie (Jerry) Curtis, Marsha Ballantyne, Cory Wesley (Patti) Bell, and Kevin Manning (Terry) Bell; his sisters: Melba Ann Yost and Arlene (DeVerl) Richins. Their descendants include 20 grandchildren and 46 great grandchildren.
❦ Preceded In Death By: His parents; brothers: George Edward, Clark Ephraim, Hyrum Ezra, LaVern Clark, Theo Clark and Warren Clark; sister, Mary Maurine Warner; son-in-law, Jon Ballantyne (Marsha); and great granddaughter, Sydney Sargent.
❦ Arrangements & Obituary: © Walker Sanderson Funeral Home
❦ Services: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
❦ Location: Orem 6th Ward Chapel | Orem, Utah
❦ Interment: Pleasant View Cemetery
❦ Military Honors: Fully Accorded
Bio compiled by: Annie Duckett Hundley
1926 - 2016
VETERAN
❦ Early Life: Wesley was born July 13, 1926, in Oakley, Idaho, to Ephraim and Sylvia Clark Bell. He was the ninth of eleven children. As a child, his family moved to the small community of Unity where he enjoyed playing along the banks of the Snake River with his older brothers. Later, the family moved into Burley where Wesley graduated from Burley High School. He excelled in sports and said that his favorite sport was whichever one he was playing. He wasn't very big for football and basketball but he was fast, receiving several athletic awards. Serving as student body president his senior year, he missed his high school graduation as he was drafted into the military a few months before, along with 12 others boys in his class.
❦ Life's Work | Service | Interests: Leaving his high school sweetheart, Virginia Manning, he entered the United States Navy on February 21, 1945, serving on the Cruiser USS Miami until the end of World War II. Returning home, he attended SICE, Southern Idaho College of Education, at Albion, Idaho, completing his BA of Education in three years. He continued playing football and basketball while at SICE. On June 6, 1947, Wesley married Virginia in the Salt Lake Temple. He enjoyed teaching and coaching in Heyburn and Burley Idaho before moving his family to California to complete his master's degree at UCLA. He worked for 33 years as a teacher and high school counselor in the Downey Unified School District. He also worked evenings for 25 years at the Downey Adult School. Wanting to be closer to their children and grandchildren, they moved to Kent, Washington, in 1990, making it home for 24 years. In 2014, they moved to Orem, Utah, with their son Cory and his family. An active member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Wesley served in various church callings. His favorite was that of bishop. He loved caring for his ward family in the Downey 2nd Ward, and they loved him. He also served many years in the stake high council. He and Virginia had long desired to serve a mission together. After serving as ordinance workers at the Los Angeles California Temple, they were called to the Florida Jacksonville Mission. He was a faithful home teacher and truly watched over those he served. He was humbled when called as patriarch of the Kent Washington Stake. Wesley was happy being outdoors and enjoyed gardening, fishing, and hunting. He learned much about cars from his older brother, Elwin, and became a good mechanic, which knowledge he later passed on to his boys. He loved his family and was always willing to help his children and grandchildren. Wesley Clark Bell, of Orem, Utah, passed away at home on Monday March 21, 2016, due to complications of Alzheimer's disease. He was 89.
❦ Survived By: His loving wife, Virginia; four children: Bonnie (Jerry) Curtis, Marsha Ballantyne, Cory Wesley (Patti) Bell, and Kevin Manning (Terry) Bell; his sisters: Melba Ann Yost and Arlene (DeVerl) Richins. Their descendants include 20 grandchildren and 46 great grandchildren.
❦ Preceded In Death By: His parents; brothers: George Edward, Clark Ephraim, Hyrum Ezra, LaVern Clark, Theo Clark and Warren Clark; sister, Mary Maurine Warner; son-in-law, Jon Ballantyne (Marsha); and great granddaughter, Sydney Sargent.
❦ Arrangements & Obituary: © Walker Sanderson Funeral Home
❦ Services: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
❦ Location: Orem 6th Ward Chapel | Orem, Utah
❦ Interment: Pleasant View Cemetery
❦ Military Honors: Fully Accorded
Bio compiled by: Annie Duckett Hundley
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MARRIED JUNE 6, 1947
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