Joe Bell

by Breck Faught

Joe Dick Bell, a precious man of God, went to meet his Lord Jesus Christ on Thursday morning August 3, 2017. Joe was born September 14, 1932, to Lawrence and Myrtle Hart Bell in Lubbock, Texas. On July 19, 1957, he married his sweetheart, Carma Lee Middleton. The couple recently celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary together.

Joe received his education from Lubbock High School and Texas Tech University. He served in the U.S. Air Force as a gunner on a B-36 bomber. Joe worked in engineering and retired in 1996, after 36 years with Southwestern Public Service Company.

Joe is preceded in death by his parents and his brother Gregg. He is survived by his wife Carma; son and daughter-in-law, Larry and Jan Bell of Midland; daughter and son-in-law, Jeanna and Steve Lee, of Lubbock. His legacy lives on through his seven grandchildren Landon, Leah, Lyssa, Lawson, and Luke Bell; and Bryan and Brenden Lee. He is also survived by his sister, Theda Krause, of Lubbock.

Known by all for his sweet and gentle spirit, Joe had a deep spiritual passion for the Lord and for the salvation of his fellow man. This desire to spread God’s love led him to earnestly hand out tracts and Bibles. Even in the midst of an eighteen-month battle with cancer, he remained joyful and active in ministering to others. Above all, Joe loved his family deeply and cherished his wife, children, and grandchildren as a gift from God.

Joe was an ordained deacon, a Royal Ambassador Director and Leader for twenty years, and a children’s Sunday school teacher for thirty years. He was a member of Gideons International, Precepts Bible Study, and Sunshine Choir. He also volunteered with Meals on Wheels. Joe was an elected member of the Seagraves School Board and served for 13 years. In 1973, he was recognized as Citizen of the Year by the Seagraves Chamber of Commerce. He also received the Father of the Year Award in 1987, from the First Baptist Church of Seagraves.

The family will receive friends at Lake Ridge Chapel on Sunday evening August 6, from 6 to 8 p.m. A celebration of life service will be held at 10 a.m. Monday, August 7th at First Baptist Church Lubbock, Texas, with Bobby Dagnal and Danny Lucas officiating. The private family graveside service will be held at the City of Lubbock Cemetery. A tribute of Joe’s life may be found at www.memorialdesigners.net, where you may leave memories and expressions of sympathy for his family.

Memorials for Joe may be made to either the Gilbert Herrera Evangelistic Association at First Baptist Church Lubbock or Gideons International. The family would like to extend a special thanks to all of those involved in Joe’s medical care.

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