Rubie Crosby Bell

Rubie Crosby Bell, 91, died on Sept. 22. She was born Rubie Saunders Crosby in El Paso on Jan. 15, 1925 to Ruby Saunders Crosby and Stanley Warfield Crosby. Bell received a Bachelor’s degree from Vassar College (1947) and a Master’s in Social Work from Tulane University (1950). She married Bryan Bell in 1950; they were together 59 years until his death. Deeply committed to family, they raised 5 children: Rubie Bell Gosnell (Dr. Peter); Helen Elizabeth Bell (Dr. Gary Larson); Bryan Bell, Jr. (Victoria); Beverly Saunders Bell; and Barbara Bell Barrett (Rev. John). Bell worked as a social worker in the Department of Psychiatry at the Tulane Medical School, but quickly became convinced that the key to transformation was bringing people to Jesus, whom she had met at age 3. She quit her job and dedicated her life to serving Jesus and trying to lead others to Him. Bell was involved in the Trinity Christian Community, as well as in Trinity Episcopal Church where she served on the board of the Women of Trinity Church and taught Sunday school. She was on the executive committee of the New Orleans Federation of Churches, was co-founder and president of Uptown Women’s Aglow, and was coordinator of the Jesus Video Project. She was the initial chair of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Crusade in New Orleans, chair of the Christian Spirit of ’98, and a leader in other Christian initiatives. As a community volunteer, Bell served as president of the Lighthouse for the Blind Auxiliary; president of the Vassar Club of LA and of New Orleans; and board member of the Junior League and other non-profit organizations. She was a hostess for meetings and social gatherings in the historic Musson-Bell home in the Garden District. Bell and her husband received the Federation of Churches Caring Cup in 2000. She was named a Spiritual Matriarch by The Elijah Task in 2008. In addition to her children, Bell is survived by 12 grandchildren and 7 great-grandchildren. A memorial service will be held at Trinity Episcopal Church on Sat., Oct. 8, at 3:00. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to the New Orleans Mission.