He was the oldest of four children born to Henry Clay and Helen Borwig Bell. When he was a year old, the family moved to Chatham, IL and lived in the Bell family home, built by his grandparents. When he was 12, his father, a painter and decorator, was offered work in Pendleton, OR and the family moved west. He attended Pendleton High School. During his senior year, he and two friends felt they needed to join the armed forces. In March of 1943, two months short of graduation, he finally talked his father into signing for him to join the U.S. Navy. He reported to Farragut, Idaho Naval Training Center. In June of 1943, he reported to Aviation Machinist School in Norman, OK. Upon graduation in November, he was sent to the Lockheed Aircraft Plant in Burbank, CA. He graduated in December and reported to the Naval Receiving Station in Norfolk, VA and received aircraft mechanic training. From Norfolk, sailed traveled to Recife, Brazil where he was stationed for one and one-half years maintaining naval aircraft. In May of 1945, he returned to the U.S. via New Orleans. He spent a week there and than transferred to Norfolk, VA awaiting orders to be sent to the Pacific. As the war was coming to an end, the orders were cancelled and he was given 30 days leave before reporting to Naval Receiving Station, Bremerton, WA. From there, he was sent to Naval Air Station, Whidbey Island, WA, where he again maintained aircraft until his honorable discharge in August 1946. Returning to Pendelton, he worked for Pacific Tel & Tel as an installer/repairman for seven years. During this time he earned a commercial pilot’s certificate. He eft the telephone company and flew commercial piloting or two years. He was hired by the FAA and reported to Dagget, CA for training. This job required several moves including Chief in Ely, NV and watch supervisor at Los Angeles Airport. He returned to Las Vegas where he continued his career until his retirement with thirty years in government service. He was introduced by friends to Helen Jean Christensen in 1978. They eloped in his airplane and were married in the Ely Court House on August 26, 1978. He converted to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and served as High Priests Secretary and Bishop’s Executive Secretary. He and Helen moved to Hinckley in 1994. He is survived by his stepson, F Kim Taylor; stepdaughter, Sandra Taylor Call; five grandchildren and numerous great-grandchildren.