Rev. Orion H. Bell III

Orion Bell was born on December 5, 1936 to O. H. Bell, Jr. and India Bell. He grew up in Louisville, Kentucky, and was a graduate of Louisville Baptist High School, Georgetown College and the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. An ordained Southern Baptist Minister, Brother Bell pastored churches in Kentucky throughout his career, including Ballard Baptist Church in Anderson County, Second Twelve Mile Baptist Church in Peach Grove, LaCenter First Baptist Church, and four congregations in Louisville: Minors Lane Baptist, Long Run Baptist, Immanuel Baptist and Fisherville Baptist, from which he retired in 1999. Following his retirement, he was a faithful member of St. Matthews Baptist Church. Throughout his life, he worked to promote the role of the church in ministering to the spiritual and temporal needs of people and communities he served.

Beyond his devotion to the Lord, he was an avid horseman. He enjoyed riding, training and caring for them. He taught his children and grandchildren to ride, and some of their fondest memories are of time spent together with horses. He found opportunities to combine his vocation and his avocation, including serving as a volunteer chaplain at Churchill Downs and at the Wranglers' Camp at Land Between the Lakes. He often took his horse, Charlie, to day camps and Vacation Bible School events to give rides to children who may have never seen a horse up close. He also enjoyed traveling, live music, and UK Basketball.

Rev. Bell is survived by his wife of 65 years, Barbara Evans Bell. Together, they had three sons, Orion H. Bell IV (Buffy), Daniel Clayton Bell, and Rodney Dean Bell (Rachel). He was a proud Granddad of Andrea (Lee), Michael (Erin) and Martina; and great-grandchildren, Connor and James.

A visitation for Orion H. will be held Thursday, August 24, 2023 from 12:00 PM to 2:00 PM at Arch L. Heady at Resthaven, 4400 Bardstown Road, Louisville, KY 40218. Following the visitation will be a committal service at 2:00 PM at Resthaven Memorial Park, 4400 Bardstown Road, Louisville, KY 40218.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Wendell Foster Campus, in Owensboro, KY.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.archlheadyresthaven.com for the Bell family.