Bennie Bell Jr.

Bennie Bell, Jr., life-long Texan passed away peacefully early Monday, February 27, 2012 following a courageous battle with a recurrence of prostate cancer and lymphoma. He was born on September 1, 1924 to Benjamin Bell, Sr. and Anna (Wranker) Bell. He graduated from Jeff Davis High School in Houston in 1942 and joined the Navy in January 1943. He bravely served in the Pacific with the Naval Armed Guard as a radioman and gunner. Following his discharge from the Navy, he worked in Civil Service with the U.S. Corp of Engineers and the Johns Manville Corporation. He has been a proud member of the American Legion Post 560 for 67 years. After his military service, Bennie was the consummate salesman, working for Remington Rand Corp., The Cargill Printing and Stationery Company and American Greetings.

Bennie was his happiest in the outdoors either hunting in the hill country or at "the Pond", fishing in lakes or at Bolivar, and playing golf just about anywhere. His proudest moments were 2 "holes-in-one"; one at Memorial Park Golf Course, and a double eagle. A musician at heart, he played the trumpet, "fiddled" the guitar, "tweaked" the harmonica, and "doodled" the electronic keyboard. He also played a mean goose-caller.

Bennie was preceded in death by his parents, his sister, Frankie Gould, his uncles, George Bell, Joseph P. Bell, Sam Bell, Bruno Broski, Marian J. Birowski, and his aunt Zephyr (Birowski) Sowden. He is survived by his wife of 57 years, Nella M. (Beach) Bell, his daughter, Susan Jean Bell Hancock (Kenneth), and two grandsons, Kenneth Douglas Hancock III and Benjamin Scott Hancock.

Honorary pallbearers will be his grandsons, Doug and Scott Hancock, Ken Barrett, Robert “Bobby” Froebel, George Glover and Buddy Muldoon

Visitation will be Thursday March 1st from 6:00 until 8:00 p.m. at Pat H. Foley Funeral Home. A Memorial service will be held at St. Ambrose Catholic Church on Friday, March 2nd at 12:30 p.m. with internment following at Houston National Cemetery with full military honors.

The family would like to thank the staff and caregivers of the Hampton at Pinegate for their care these last 7 months. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the American Legion Post 560 or the charity of your choice.