Dorothy Irene Bell

On February 14, 1935 in Cincinnati, Ohio, George and Irene Hales welcomed into our world their precious little treasure: Dorothy Irene Hales. At a very young age, Dorothy demonstrated a tenacity for persevering through life's challenges that remained with her to the very end. Neither being born prematurely—weighing just a few pounds—nor being stricken with rheumatic fever in grade school stopped her drive and zest for life.

Dorothy really looked up to her big brother that she grew up with, Donald Hales, who was a year and four months older, but known to be much wiser than his years. They enjoyed working together in their father's corner convenience store and they admitted that they got spoiled with all the candy they could eat.

During Dorothy's adolescence, her mom Irene, who was already a Christian in the Baptist faith, decided to continue her Christian journey as a Seventh-day Adventist. Initially, this was somewhat of a culture shock for Dorothy and her brother, having been raised Baptist, but eventually, they both decided to accept the new truths they learned and joined the Seventh-day Adventist movement.

Dorothy graduated from Taft High School, where the yearbook for her final year there indicates, “Senior Choir and Photo Club [were] her favorite activities”.

Little did Dorothy know when she and another boy were in the same Sunday school class as kids that he would become her husband when they were grown. Lonnie Eugene Bell, Sr. took her hand in marriage, June 4, 1960. To this union were born Lorraine, Razonda, Lonnie Jr., and Demetrius.

Dorothy was easy-going and friendly. She enjoyed music (she was an alto in several choirs), traveling, dressing up, shopping, poetry and arts & crafts. She loved the purple-and-gold color combination of royalty, and she also loved the color red. Through the years, Dorothy maintained a desire to work at least a little outside the home. She worked as a shirt-press operator at Heider Cleaners, served as an educational aid at Highview Elementary School, was an operator-in-training at Ohio Bell, and also served as hostess at Homewood Suites by Hilton.

Dorothy found her true occupational calling as a homemaker, raising her children with love and conviction as one who was always there, regardless of the occasion. Dorothy instilled a deep sense of faith in God in her children and demonstrated faithfulness to God through church-related service and support of Christian Education. Her favorite verse was Psalm 34:8 – “O taste and see that the LORD is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him.”

Dorothy was preceded in death by her parents George Sr. (1949) and Irene (1991); her brothers George Jr., Morris, and Donald (2007); and her husband Lonnie Sr. (2002). She leaves to grieve her passing:

• Her four children: Lorraine, Razonda (Sipho), Lonnie Jr., and Demetrius (Alicia)

• Her ten grandchildren: Malaika, Michael Jr. (Porshia); Oliver and Mutsa; Alicsia, Reshawna and Jared; Gloria, Joseph and Steven

• Her four great-grandchildren: Makayla, JeVon, Aysa and Michael III

...and countless cousins, nephews, nieces, friends and acquaintances.

The family will receive friends Sunday, 15 March 2020 during visitation from 10:00-11:00am at the Beavercreek Seventh-day Adventist (SDA) Church followed by the service at 11:00am.

Beavercreek SDA Church

670 Grange Hall Rd, Beavercreek, OH 45430

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For details regarding the burial that will occur the next day (11:00am Monday, 16 March 2020), please contact, Tobias Funeral Home (937-435-2273). The burial will occur at Miami Valley Memory Gardens

1639 East Lytle-Five Points Rd

Centerville, OH 45458

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In lieu of flowers, our grateful family is requesting that tax-deductible contributions be made out to and sent to "Beavercreek SDA Church", with "Dorothy Bell Memorial Fund" on the memo line.

Beavercreek SDA Church

670 Grange Hall Rd.

Beavercreek, OH 45430

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