William Thomas Bell

His friends called him Billy T. Bell, the guy you wanted to be around if you needed a good laugh. His former students called him, Mr. Bell, teacher extraordinaire. He was also best dad, husband, and friend imaginable. William (Bill) Thomas Bell was born in Edmonton, Alberta, along with his twin brother, Harry, on April 17, 1925. He returned to the Lord on October 9, 2016, having brought sunshine and joy to this world for 91 years.

As a single mother, his mother did the best she could to keep the family together. She moved to Portland when the French speaking twins were toddlers. Bill and Harry lived in St. Mary’s Home for Boys in Beaverton for a short time, before Isabel “bailed them out.” The boys then attended Holy Redeemer Catholic School in N. Portland. Benson High School was next, but after a couple of years, and a war going on, both young men left school; Harry joined the Marines and Bill enlisted in the Navy on April 3, 1943. Bill served on the newly commissioned aircraft carrier, USS Bennington. His tour was in the Pacific theater where his ship encountered intimidating moments, like having a near hit by a suicidal Kamikaze.

Bill was honorably discharged from the Navy on March 10, 1946, as an Aviation Machinists Mate 2nd Class. Among his service ribbons were an Asiatic-Pacific Area Campaign (3 stars), WW2-Victory, and the America Area Campaign medals. Bill returned to Oregon and used the GI Bill to continue his education, the first year at OSU, the next 3 at Lewis and Clark College. Bill played football at Lewis and Clark on the famous 1950 undefeated team coached by Joe Huston, comprised of burly, fearless WW2 veterans. They are still registered in the L & C Football Hall of Fame. Later he attended U of O for a Masters in Teaching degree.

Harry was killed in an auto accident, which devastated Bill. He always felt a deep loss for his twin. Then in 1951 Bill married a pretty little nurse, Pearl Wood. He adored Pearl and they raised a family of four children, Harry, Lorrie, Kathy, and Jon, and many dogs and cats.

Bill had various careers, as a teacher, salesman, and a firefighter. He began his long teaching legacy in Baker, Oregon, then moved to Portland Public Schools, for a total of 33 years. Most of his teaching was at Fernwood school, as an 8th grade teacher in his basement classroom. He also spent many years at Harvey Scott school. Not only was he a cherished teacher, but he was a father figure who taught his students the essence of living life to the fullest, as he did with his own children. Plus, he was able to beat them all in shooting hoops at basketball. (Mr. Bell flaunted his athletic prowess often.)

Bill was also a firefighter on a fireboat on the Willamette River. He was one of the crews who fought the famous Zidell dock fire of 1956 on the Portland waterfront. One summer he spent working on the construction of the Mt. Hood Highway. He was hit by a car during this work when he was operating as a flagman (later fully recovered). But Bill could make anything he did exciting and hysterically funny. The many family camping trips were filled with adventure, like when the rented camper went down an embankment off the freeway. Bill adored his family throughout his entire life. It was completely mutual. Even his children’s friends dubbed him, ‘Party Animal: King of the Schmoozers.’

Another devastating loss occurred in 2003 with the death of his wife, Pearl, to cancer. Nothing could console him, until 2006, when he was introduced to a woman, Phyllis Koenig. They were inseparable until the end. They went on many road trips in her little black Mercedes, and other memorable vacations together. Bill would smile whenever she would enter his room. He struggled with Alzheimer’s, but he never let it get the better of him. He’s probably sharing his laughter and jokes right now in heaven, we can only hope they are appropriate!

An open house celebration of life for friends, family, former students, will be held on Sunday, April 23, 2017, from 10 AM until 3 PM at McMenamins Kennedy School in the gym, 5736 NE 33rd Ave., Portland, OR. There will be an open mic and a special video at 11:30 AM and again at 1:30 PM.