James Edward Bell

James Edward Bell, of Richmond Texas, beloved son, brother, husband, father, grandfather, uncle, great uncle, and great-great uncle passed away on July 6th, 2025. James was born in Shenango Township, New Castle, Pennsylvania on August 5th, 1941 to Nancy Elanor Shaffer Lowry Bell and John Ivan Bell, and elder brother John “Jack” Lowry.

James attended Shenango High School in New Castle, Pennsylvania, then attended Grove City College receiving a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics. After college, James worked in the Insurance industry and eventually joined and retired from the US Government Social Security Administration. During his retirement, James became a master gardener, an amateur genealogist, and grandfather, growing beautiful roses, tracking families back over a thousand years, and spending time with his beloved grandchildren.

James is preceded in death by his parents, wife Carolyn Ruth Aeberli Bell, elder brother Jack Lowery, Jack’s wife Marilyn Lowry, sister-in-law Nancy Aeberli Mooney, Nancy’s husband James R. Mooney, brother-in-law James Aeberli and James’ wife Patricia Wenzel Aeberli, and niece Kay Lowry Craig.

James is survived by his daughters Catherine L. Bell and Patricia Bell Martin and Patricia’s husband Robert W. Martin, his granddaughters Amanda N. Martin, Rachel E. Martin and Lauren A. Martin, his sister Joyce Bell Vitril; his nieces and nephews: Kimberly Vitril, Jason Vitril and wife Nell Vitril, Dillon Mooney, David Mooney, Richard Aeberli and wife Cheryl Aeberli, Jacki Lowry, Lisa Lowry Arvin and husband Raymond Arvin, Tracy Lowry Weidinger and husband George Weidinger; his great (and great-great) nieces and nephews: Ted and Adelaide Mooney; Karrie Craig and husband Jeremy Snell; Heather Craig Hinkle and husband Tim Hinkle, and great-great-nephews Darryl and Preston Hinkle; Scott Craig and his wife Breanne Craig and great-great nieces Taylor and Andie Craig; Ashley Lowry Wood and husband Jason Wood; Michaela Weidinger; Cannon Parker and wife Elisabeth Moraski Parker; Ryan Parker; Heather Aeberli Tornes, her husband Eric Tornes and great-great nieces Emma and Hazel Tornes; and Rachel Aeberli O’Dell, her husband Joe O’Dell and great-great nieces/nephew Addie, Trent, and Rue O’Dell.

A memorial service will be held at earthman Southwest funeral Home, located at 12555 South Kirkwood Road, Stafford, Texas ,77477 on August 2, 2025, starting at 2:00 pm.

For those unable to attend, a livestream of the service well be available by selecting join livestream icon listed below.

A reception with light desserts will follow the memorial service in the event room at earthman Southwest Funeral Home.

A private burial will be at forest park Westheimer funeral home and Cemetery, Houston Texas

at a later date.