Estella Belle Anderson

Estella Belle Jones was born in Morrilton, Arkansas on December 27, 1932. She was known as “Stella Belle” to her relatives. Stella Belle had a bit of a rough life after her mother died when she was 10, she and her bedridden father moved back and forth between relatives until her father died when she was 12. When she was in high school she moved in with her best friend, Marilyn Sheedle in Fairfield, Iowa where she met Melvin Anderson. Estella (as she was now known, except by her relatives) and Melvin were married on May 26, 1951. Melvin went into the Army and fought in the Korean War during which time they had their first child, Dianna in 1952. In 1954 Dena came along followed by Doreen in 1956. Estella was a stay-at-home mom and the family moved around as Melvin got out of the military and changed jobs. They went from the army base in Iowa to Crawfordsville, Indiana for a couple years then to Willard, Ohio. Annual vacations were a highlight each year which usually ended up with Melvin’s mother in Fairfield, Iowa followed by relatives in Branson, Missouri. During these vacations there would be day trips to “Stella Bell’s” relatives in Iowa and Arkansas. While living in Willard, surprise, Estella became pregnant again and had Dawn in 1962 followed by Donald in 1964. The family moved one more time in 1965 to Centerville, Ohio. Estella decided to fulfill a lifelong dream to become a nurse, so off she went to school. She became a Licensed Practical Nurse and got a job working the graveyard shift at a nearby nursing home, Bethany Lutheran Village. She continued her nursing education so that she could administer medications. The family bought a camper and traveled all over as the car trips continued to be a highlight every year. Estella continued working at Bethany until she retired in 1990 or 1991. Melvin died July 26, 1994 leaving her a widow. She never remarried and ultimately sold the house in 2016 when it became too much for her to handle on her own and moved in with Dianna, her oldest daughter. In 2016-17 Estella fell when visiting a friend in a nursing home and after that started using a walker as she always felt out of balance. Then in 2018 her circulation in her left foot became a major problem until it finally caused her left leg to be amputated above the knee in 2018. Estella was beginning to need a lot of care and “watching” so in 2021 it was decided that it would be best if she moved into a facility capable of helping her manage her needs. Dianna and Estella visited several facilities and Estella decided she liked the smaller more intimate feel of Miller Farm than the larger more impersonal facilities. Estella happily resided in her own apartment at Miller Farm until she passed peacefully surrounded by much of her family, on Friday, February 10, 2023 in Centerville, Ohio. Estella is now resting in Heaven. She is survived by 5 children, 12 grandchildren and 24 great grandchildren. The Family will receive family and friends from 1:00 to 2:00 p.m. Saturday, February 18, 2023 at Tobias Funeral Home – Far Hills Chapel, 5471 Far Hills Ave., Dayton, Ohio 45429, with the funeral service at 2:00 p.m. Burial Miami Valley Memory Gardens, Centerville, Ohio. Memorial contributions may be made to Hospice of Dayton, 324 Wilmington Ave., Dayton, Ohio 45420. Condolences may be sent to www.tobiasfuneralhome.com