Jack Donalson Bell

On April 26, we said an earthly goodbye to Jack Bell — our beloved husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, and steadfast friend. He passed away peacefully at home in the hands of his high school sweetheart in Auburn, California, at the age of 82, leaving behind a lifetime of love, adventure, and stubborn wisdom.

Jack was born in Rhode Island and spent his early years exploring the wide skies of Los Alamos, New Mexico. After graduating from Los Alamos High School, his curiosity and determination carried him to New Mexico State University, where he earned a degree in mechanical engineering, and then into the cockpit of the United States Air Force.

As a pilot, Jack soared through both peace and conflict, earning the Distinguished Flying Cross for his courage flying hazardous aerial missions during the Vietnam War and retiring as a lieutenant colonel after a career marked by honor and service.

But it was the life Jack built beyond the skies that truly defined him. He found joy in mountain trails dusted with snow, in the thrill of a downhill ski run, and most of all, in every moment spent with his family.

He had a storyteller’s soul, an engineer’s hands, and a heart big enough to carry the troubles of others as his own.

To know Jack was to know generosity, creativity, and an unwavering willingness to lend a hand. Especially, if the task was unfinished pie.

Jack’s spirit lives on in his wife, Kathie; his daughter Lindy (Mike); his son Jason (Ruth); his grandchildren Molly, Max (Anna), Ryan, and Sierra; and his great-grandson Callum — each carrying forward pieces of his love, humor, and grit.

A private family service will be held to honor Jack’s extraordinary life and the calm, steady light he brought to our world.