John R. Bell, Jr

John R. Bell Jr., 84, of Washington, died Thursday, May 26, 2005, in his home. He had been in declining health. He was born July 7, 1920, in Jefferson, a son of John R. Sr. and Lona Bruckner Bell. Mr. Bell was a graduate of Jefferson High School and Robert Morris College and was employed as an accountant and office manager for Suwak Trucking for 35 years. He was a U.S. Army Air Forces veteran of World War II who flew 75 missions in the China-Burma-India Theater. Mr. Bell was a life member of Hump Pilot Association-CBI, a member of AARP, Edwin Scott Linton American Post 175, Elks 776 and its golf league, and Knights of Columbus 1083, where he was a former grand knight. He was an avid golfer and enjoyed playing pool. In his youth, he spent one season as a batboy for a New York Yankees farm team. For the last several years, he spent winters in Englewood, Fla. On February 16, 1949, he married Letha Davis, who survives. Also surviving are a son, Thomas K. Bell of Washington; three daughters, Cynthia Sullivan of Kingston, Mass., Patricia Spangler of Bozeman, Mont., and Sharon McCarver of Long Valley, N.J.; a sister, Marea Bell of Jefferson; and six grandchildren, Johnathon and Jeremy Spangler, Davis and Rachel Sullivan and Laura and Katie McCarver. Deceased are two sisters, Eleanor Dyson and Catherine Young; and a brother, Thomas E. Bell. Friends will be received from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Sunday and 2 to 4 Monday in William G. Neal Funeral Homes Ltd., 925 Allison Avenue, Washington. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Tuesday, May 31, in Immaculate Conception Church, Washington, with the Rev. William Feeney as celebrant. Entombment will follow in St. James Mausoleum, Immaculate Conception Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to Albert Gallatin Hospice and Home Care, 275 Meadowlands Boulevard, Washington, PA 15301; or Immaculate Conception Church, 119 West Chestnut Street, Washington, PA 15301.