Opal Inez Gibson Bell

Born in Big Stone Gap, Virginia on May 30, 1922, Inez Gibson Bell entered into a new life on December 27, 2015, at the age of 93. She lived a long life, full of travel, with 61 years of it in the company of her beloved son, Robert, who has special needs. Inez lived in many states during her life, often following her husband, Earl, as he accepted new opportunities to apply his engineering skills. Married in Galesburg, Illinois, in 1943, they lived in Virginia, Washington DC, Tennessee, New York, Pennsylvania, Florida and Colorado over the course of their 47-year marriage. Inez moved to Austin in 2000 to be near family and was a member of the Joy Class at Bannockburn Baptist Church where many remember her complete devotion to Robert. Inez retired from the Tennessee Valley Authority in 1986, but her career spanned many jobs in civil service, including a stint at the Pentagon during the early 1950’s. She was a graduate of Bristol Business College in Bristol, Tennessee, and was very proud of her stenography skills, often saying, “Nobody knows shorthand these days!”

Inez leaves behind her special son, Robert Alan Bell, daughter Catherine Bell Cabrera and son-in-law Richard A. Cabrera and grandson Matthew B. Cabrera, all of Austin, TX, plus many treasured friends, in-laws, nieces, nephews and their children.

The family extends its appreciation to the staff of Sodalis Memory Care in Austin for the compassionate care they provided over the past two years.

A graveside service will lay her to rest beside her husband in Barrancas National Cemetery in Pensacola, Florida.

A memorial reception will be held at Bannockburn Baptist Church 7100 Brodie Ln, Austin, TX 78745 on Sunday, January 10, 2016, in Room 110 from 12:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m.

Condolences may be left at www.cookwaldenforestoaks.com