William "Bill" Worth Bell, age 87, passed away in the arms of his daughters on October 4, 2011 in Scottsdale, AZ, after a valiant battle with cancer. Bill was born in Memphis, TX on December 29, 1923 to Charles Wesley Bell and Minnie J. Smith Bell. Bill was only nine when he and his brothers and sisters were orphaned during the Great Depression. After time in a orphanage and several years on a sharecropping farm; Bill, 16 moved to Pampa Texas, rented a room and began life on his own. Bill worked long evenings at a local movie theater and attended Pampa High School during the day. Bill survived on pennies yet excelled academically and personally. Bill was a member of the National Honor Society, was Vice President of his senior class and voted Most Likely to Succeed by his classmates. It was in high school that he met the love of his life, Nita Rose McCarty, yet at the time, had no idea marriage was in their future. After graducation in 1942, Bill joined the Army Air Corp, reported to basic training and Airplane Mechanic School at Sheppard field and while there, kept up correspondence by mail with Nita Rose. Bill was accepted to aerial gunnery school at Tyndall Air Base in Florida, then Idaho where B-24 bomber crews were assembled. Bill was rewarded with the assignment of 1st Engineer, the youngest of his crew. On Christman Eve, 1943, the bomber crews set sail for Casablanca. Assigned to the 376th Heavy Bombardment Group of the 512th Squardron, Bill completed his 50th mission aboard the B-24 Besame Mucho on June 26, 1944. Returning to the United States Bill married Nita Rose, attended the University of Oklahoma and graduated with a degree in Journalsim in 1949. They moved to Albuquerque, NM and together, began their photography business, 'BILL BELL of Albuquerque'. They were an extraordinary team and each earned impressive recongition and awards in the National arena of Professional Photography. In 1980, Bill served as President of the National Professional Photographers of America at their 100th Anniversity Celebration. Bill and Nita retired to Leisure World in Mesa, AZ in 2003 where they had their "vacation home" part-time residence for several years. Bill's compelling life story, "Shadows of Wings" now published and available through Amazon.com was completed after Nita's passing. Bill's life story reminds us why we call it the "greatest generation", rising above the grinding poverty of the Dustbowl days to the pinnacle of the American Dream. His legacy of hope and spirit live on through his family and all who knew him. Bill will always be beloved. Bill is survived by his daughters, Lizabeth "Liza" Elaine Bell and her husband, Patrick Waugh and Linda Rosanne Loy and her husband, Steve Loy, grandchildren, Karrie Kristin Pierson and her husband, James F. Pierson III, Britton Ashley Picciolini and her husband, Christian Picciolini, Michael Mauchline, Kelli Lyn Newsome and her husband, Zack Newsome, Krisin Lizabeth Loy, great-grandchildren, Katherine Grace Pierson, Joseph James Pierson, Caroline Elizabeth Pierson, Kellen James Newsome, Kirra Jade Newsome, Devin Picciolini and Brandon Picciolini. Bill was preceded in passing by his parents, his beloved wife, Nita Rose Bell, his brothers, Louis M. Bell, Clisto Bell, Douglas E. Ogburn, Charles Wesley Ogburn, Harold L. Ogburn and Raymond O. Ogburn, sisters, Lillian V. Bell, Jesse Bell and Winnefred Bell, daughter, Leslie Jeannette Mauchline and great-granddaughter, Anna Clare Pierson. An intimate family gathering for Bill's memorial service will be planned in Albuquerque where his ashes, co-mingled with those of Nita Rose will be laid to rest at Sandia Memory Gardens. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to Ryan House in Phoenix, AZ at www.ryanhouse.org.