He graduated from Oriental High School and afterwards, moved to New Bern where he resided most of his life. He studied at the former Oak Ridge Military Academy and graduated from the U.S. Maritime Officers School in New London, Connecticut at Fort Trumbull. He served with the U.S. Maritime Services in the Merchant Marines which included extensive Mediterranean trips to Germany, France and Italy during World War II. Frank’s employment as a young man included shrimping, saw milling and saw filing. Later he was a poultry farmer and then owned and operated Bell’s Salvage Yard in New Bern for twenty years. He was a Shriner and a past master of Grantham Masonic Lodge No. 725. He always enjoyed a good round of golf with his buddies. His annual Thanksgiving family reunion was followed by the Turkey Tournament Golf Playoff and it was the highlight of his year. The front porch of his home will always be remembered as a five o’clock gathering place for his wonderful friends, neighbors, and his special lady, Nancy. We thank him for the many years of good cheer, humor, love and kindness. Frank is preceded in death by his wife of 34 years, Elizabeth “Betsy” Bell, his parents, Edison Carl Bell and Golda Wade Bell and a sister, Ruth Willie Spruill.
Frank is survived by three children, A. Carl Bell, Robin Bell Hicks and Ginny Bell Kesler, seven grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren.
Visitation will be held from 6:00-8:00 pm Wednesday, June 19, 2013 at Cotten Funeral Home. A graveside service will be held at the Blackwell Cemetery at 11:00 am Thursday, June 20, 2013 in Oriental. From New Bern, take Hwy. 55 E to Oriental, turn right on North St., and follow the lead of the funeral home staff to the cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Shriners Children’s Hospital 2900 Rocky Pt. Dr., Tampa, FL 33607-1460.
Online condolences may be made to the Bell family at www.cottenfuneralhome.com
SHARE OBITUARY
v.1.8.18