Norman Bell, age 82, from Springfield, MO, passed away Aug. 18 @ 6:00am after a battle with C.O.P.D. at his home with his daughter and son-in-law by his side. He was born Oct. 26, 1935 in Ft. Sheridan, IL to Norman T. Bell and Anna T. (Studeny) Bell. He attended school at Oak Terrace Elementary, and 3 years at Highland Park High School before moving from Highwood, IL to Staunton Military Academy in Virginia. He married Betty May Bell in the Ft. Sheridan Chapel on Feb. 23, 1958, where he served as an altar boy in his youth. Norman and Betty traveled for many years while he was in the U.S. Army. He had a brief tour of duty in Korea, and 2 tours in Viet Nam. He and Betty lived in many places, Ft. Leonard Wood, Ft. Riley, Ft. Carson, Baumholder, Germany, Hanau, Germany, and while on recruiting duty-Joplin, MO, Springfield, MO and Kansas City, MO. He retired after 23 years of service. He then went to Southwest Missouri State University where he became an art teacher, then took a higher paying job at Service America where he managed 21 cafeterias in Springfield, MO and surrounding areas. Norman loved to cook, and was very good at it. He was a member of the American Legion for many years. He was a fantastic artist, and could build, make or carve anything you would ask for, but golf was his true passion later in life. He was preceded in death by his wife, parents, one brother, Joseph, aunts, Mildred Studeny and Valerie Parmentier, and grandparents; Josef and Katherine Studeny. He is survived by his daughter, Sharon and husband Bryan, granddaughters; Angela McLaughlin and husband Gabe, Shannon Krasser and husband Derick, one sister; Mildred Eckerstrom, her daughter Katherine Hall and husband John, and niece, Mary Wilkes and husband Lyle. There was a brief service at Missouri Veterans Cemetery.
Published in the News-Leader on Aug. 21, 2018