Dr. Madison Langley "Bill" Bell, Jr.
(July 20, 1922 - December 18, 2009)
Dr. Madison Langley ("Bill") Bell, Jr., 87, of Pensacola passed away quietly in the morning on Friday, December 18, 2009 at his home.
Dr. Bell was born on July 20, 1922 in Sacred Heart Hospital in Pensacola, Florida.
Dr. Bell attended Pensacola High School where he played football, basketball, and baseball. He graduated in 1940. After high school, Bill accepted a four-year scholarship to The Citadel. At the Citadel, Bill excelled in all sports and became a Sergeant-Major in his junior year. In May 1942, the entire class at The Citadel was inducted into the Army. Bill was assigned to the Army Air Corps in 1943. He attended Air Corps Gunner School and Air Corps Navigator School in Harlingen, Texas. He received his wings in October 1944 and was sent to Westover Field in Massachusetts where he joined his B-24 crew as the navigator.
While in training, Bill met his future wife, Helen Lamothe from Chicopee Massachusetts, whom he married after the War.
Bill and his B-24 crew flew from Massachusetts to their base in Southern Italy making stops in the Azores and North Africa. He and his crew flew bombing missions over Southern Europe until VE Day. On one such mission, over Linz, Austria, flack struck the plane, crippling two of the planes' four engines, at which time Bill navigated the plane out of formation and returned to base. The crew was escorted on the return trip by fighter planes from Chappie James' fighter squadron. After dropping its payload over the Adriatic Sea, the plane was able to land safely back at the base. Bill was fond of telling this and many other stories about his experiences in the War and was truly a member of the "Greatest Generation."
After the War, Bill returned to Massachusetts where he and Helen then married. Bill completed his undergraduate education at the University of Florida and his post-graduate education at the Northwestern School of Dentistry in Chicago, Illinois. He and Helen then returned to Pensacola where Bill opened his dental practice, which he would operate for the next 40 years. Volunteering was Bill's way of giving back to Pensacola.
As son of Madison Langley Bell, Sr., Escambia County Clerk of Court for 44 years, and father of Madison ("Matt") Langley Bell, III, Escambia County Tax Collector for 21 years before passing away in October 1998, he was part of a family with a long tradition of public service.
Throughout his career, Bill volunteered his services as an oral surgeon at area hospitals and clinics. Bill also followed in his father's footsteps volunteering his time at the Langley Bell 4-H Camp, named for Madison Langley Bell, Sr., due to his gift to the Camp of the land on which it still operates today. Bill's public service achievements included being President of the Escambia County 4-H Foundation, Chairman/President of the Langley Bell 4-H Board of Trustees, Chairman and Member of the City County Drug Abuse Commission, Member of the Pensacola City Council, President of Escarosa District Boy Scouts of America, President of the Escarosa Dental Society and Life Member of Citadel Men. Bill spent his free time hunting and fishing in Florida and South Alabama as well in a number of western states and Canada.
Bill is survived by his wife of more than 60 years, Helen Lamothe Bell; his brother, William Reed, his four children, Keith, Bruce, Babette Bell and Beverly Bell Vannoy; his three daughters-in-law, Christine, Jeanne and Catherine; his sons-in-law Jeff Vannoy and Jay Schwartz; his grandsons, Madison, Keith Jr., Kevin, Christopher, Chaz, Bud, Clay and Nicholas; his granddaughters, Amy, Starlyn and Langley and his great grandchildren, Madeline, Maegan, Lucas, Brady and McKell.
Honorary Pallbearers will be Bill Baker, Bill Bond, Charles Crooke, Harry Kahn, Art Grebe and Paul Bruno.
Visitation will be held at the Cathedral of the Sacred Heart from 4-6 p.m. on Tuesday, December 22, 2009. Graveside Service will be held at Holy Cross Cemetery Mausoleum at 10:00 a.m. on Wednesday, December 23, 2009.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Langley Bell 4-H Center or Covenant Hospice. HARPER-MORRIS MEMORIAL Harper-Morris is in charge of the arrangements.
*****
Plot suggested on 19 Oct 2020 by Jerry Thomas; FIND A GRAVE ID 47420077
(July 20, 1922 - December 18, 2009)
Dr. Madison Langley ("Bill") Bell, Jr., 87, of Pensacola passed away quietly in the morning on Friday, December 18, 2009 at his home.
Dr. Bell was born on July 20, 1922 in Sacred Heart Hospital in Pensacola, Florida.
Dr. Bell attended Pensacola High School where he played football, basketball, and baseball. He graduated in 1940. After high school, Bill accepted a four-year scholarship to The Citadel. At the Citadel, Bill excelled in all sports and became a Sergeant-Major in his junior year. In May 1942, the entire class at The Citadel was inducted into the Army. Bill was assigned to the Army Air Corps in 1943. He attended Air Corps Gunner School and Air Corps Navigator School in Harlingen, Texas. He received his wings in October 1944 and was sent to Westover Field in Massachusetts where he joined his B-24 crew as the navigator.
While in training, Bill met his future wife, Helen Lamothe from Chicopee Massachusetts, whom he married after the War.
Bill and his B-24 crew flew from Massachusetts to their base in Southern Italy making stops in the Azores and North Africa. He and his crew flew bombing missions over Southern Europe until VE Day. On one such mission, over Linz, Austria, flack struck the plane, crippling two of the planes' four engines, at which time Bill navigated the plane out of formation and returned to base. The crew was escorted on the return trip by fighter planes from Chappie James' fighter squadron. After dropping its payload over the Adriatic Sea, the plane was able to land safely back at the base. Bill was fond of telling this and many other stories about his experiences in the War and was truly a member of the "Greatest Generation."
After the War, Bill returned to Massachusetts where he and Helen then married. Bill completed his undergraduate education at the University of Florida and his post-graduate education at the Northwestern School of Dentistry in Chicago, Illinois. He and Helen then returned to Pensacola where Bill opened his dental practice, which he would operate for the next 40 years. Volunteering was Bill's way of giving back to Pensacola.
As son of Madison Langley Bell, Sr., Escambia County Clerk of Court for 44 years, and father of Madison ("Matt") Langley Bell, III, Escambia County Tax Collector for 21 years before passing away in October 1998, he was part of a family with a long tradition of public service.
Throughout his career, Bill volunteered his services as an oral surgeon at area hospitals and clinics. Bill also followed in his father's footsteps volunteering his time at the Langley Bell 4-H Camp, named for Madison Langley Bell, Sr., due to his gift to the Camp of the land on which it still operates today. Bill's public service achievements included being President of the Escambia County 4-H Foundation, Chairman/President of the Langley Bell 4-H Board of Trustees, Chairman and Member of the City County Drug Abuse Commission, Member of the Pensacola City Council, President of Escarosa District Boy Scouts of America, President of the Escarosa Dental Society and Life Member of Citadel Men. Bill spent his free time hunting and fishing in Florida and South Alabama as well in a number of western states and Canada.
Bill is survived by his wife of more than 60 years, Helen Lamothe Bell; his brother, William Reed, his four children, Keith, Bruce, Babette Bell and Beverly Bell Vannoy; his three daughters-in-law, Christine, Jeanne and Catherine; his sons-in-law Jeff Vannoy and Jay Schwartz; his grandsons, Madison, Keith Jr., Kevin, Christopher, Chaz, Bud, Clay and Nicholas; his granddaughters, Amy, Starlyn and Langley and his great grandchildren, Madeline, Maegan, Lucas, Brady and McKell.
Honorary Pallbearers will be Bill Baker, Bill Bond, Charles Crooke, Harry Kahn, Art Grebe and Paul Bruno.
Visitation will be held at the Cathedral of the Sacred Heart from 4-6 p.m. on Tuesday, December 22, 2009. Graveside Service will be held at Holy Cross Cemetery Mausoleum at 10:00 a.m. on Wednesday, December 23, 2009.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Langley Bell 4-H Center or Covenant Hospice. HARPER-MORRIS MEMORIAL Harper-Morris is in charge of the arrangements.
*****
Plot suggested on 19 Oct 2020 by Jerry Thomas; FIND A GRAVE ID 47420077
Dr. Madison Langley "Bill" Bell, Jr.
(July 20, 1922 - December 18, 2009)
Dr. Madison Langley ("Bill") Bell, Jr., 87, of Pensacola passed away quietly in the morning on Friday, December 18, 2009 at his home.
Dr. Bell was born on July 20, 1922 in Sacred Heart Hospital in Pensacola, Florida.
Dr. Bell attended Pensacola High School where he played football, basketball, and baseball. He graduated in 1940. After high school, Bill accepted a four-year scholarship to The Citadel. At the Citadel, Bill excelled in all sports and became a Sergeant-Major in his junior year. In May 1942, the entire class at The Citadel was inducted into the Army. Bill was assigned to the Army Air Corps in 1943. He attended Air Corps Gunner School and Air Corps Navigator School in Harlingen, Texas. He received his wings in October 1944 and was sent to Westover Field in Massachusetts where he joined his B-24 crew as the navigator.
While in training, Bill met his future wife, Helen Lamothe from Chicopee Massachusetts, whom he married after the War.
Bill and his B-24 crew flew from Massachusetts to their base in Southern Italy making stops in the Azores and North Africa. He and his crew flew bombing missions over Southern Europe until VE Day. On one such mission, over Linz, Austria, flack struck the plane, crippling two of the planes' four engines, at which time Bill navigated the plane out of formation and returned to base. The crew was escorted on the return trip by fighter planes from Chappie James' fighter squadron. After dropping its payload over the Adriatic Sea, the plane was able to land safely back at the base. Bill was fond of telling this and many other stories about his experiences in the War and was truly a member of the "Greatest Generation."
After the War, Bill returned to Massachusetts where he and Helen then married. Bill completed his undergraduate education at the University of Florida and his post-graduate education at the Northwestern School of Dentistry in Chicago, Illinois. He and Helen then returned to Pensacola where Bill opened his dental practice, which he would operate for the next 40 years. Volunteering was Bill's way of giving back to Pensacola.
As son of Madison Langley Bell, Sr., Escambia County Clerk of Court for 44 years, and father of Madison ("Matt") Langley Bell, III, Escambia County Tax Collector for 21 years before passing away in October 1998, he was part of a family with a long tradition of public service.
Throughout his career, Bill volunteered his services as an oral surgeon at area hospitals and clinics. Bill also followed in his father's footsteps volunteering his time at the Langley Bell 4-H Camp, named for Madison Langley Bell, Sr., due to his gift to the Camp of the land on which it still operates today. Bill's public service achievements included being President of the Escambia County 4-H Foundation, Chairman/President of the Langley Bell 4-H Board of Trustees, Chairman and Member of the City County Drug Abuse Commission, Member of the Pensacola City Council, President of Escarosa District Boy Scouts of America, President of the Escarosa Dental Society and Life Member of Citadel Men. Bill spent his free time hunting and fishing in Florida and South Alabama as well in a number of western states and Canada.
Bill is survived by his wife of more than 60 years, Helen Lamothe Bell; his brother, William Reed, his four children, Keith, Bruce, Babette Bell and Beverly Bell Vannoy; his three daughters-in-law, Christine, Jeanne and Catherine; his sons-in-law Jeff Vannoy and Jay Schwartz; his grandsons, Madison, Keith Jr., Kevin, Christopher, Chaz, Bud, Clay and Nicholas; his granddaughters, Amy, Starlyn and Langley and his great grandchildren, Madeline, Maegan, Lucas, Brady and McKell.
Honorary Pallbearers will be Bill Baker, Bill Bond, Charles Crooke, Harry Kahn, Art Grebe and Paul Bruno.
Visitation will be held at the Cathedral of the Sacred Heart from 4-6 p.m. on Tuesday, December 22, 2009. Graveside Service will be held at Holy Cross Cemetery Mausoleum at 10:00 a.m. on Wednesday, December 23, 2009.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Langley Bell 4-H Center or Covenant Hospice. HARPER-MORRIS MEMORIAL Harper-Morris is in charge of the arrangements.
*****
Plot suggested on 19 Oct 2020 by Jerry Thomas; FIND A GRAVE ID 47420077
(July 20, 1922 - December 18, 2009)
Dr. Madison Langley ("Bill") Bell, Jr., 87, of Pensacola passed away quietly in the morning on Friday, December 18, 2009 at his home.
Dr. Bell was born on July 20, 1922 in Sacred Heart Hospital in Pensacola, Florida.
Dr. Bell attended Pensacola High School where he played football, basketball, and baseball. He graduated in 1940. After high school, Bill accepted a four-year scholarship to The Citadel. At the Citadel, Bill excelled in all sports and became a Sergeant-Major in his junior year. In May 1942, the entire class at The Citadel was inducted into the Army. Bill was assigned to the Army Air Corps in 1943. He attended Air Corps Gunner School and Air Corps Navigator School in Harlingen, Texas. He received his wings in October 1944 and was sent to Westover Field in Massachusetts where he joined his B-24 crew as the navigator.
While in training, Bill met his future wife, Helen Lamothe from Chicopee Massachusetts, whom he married after the War.
Bill and his B-24 crew flew from Massachusetts to their base in Southern Italy making stops in the Azores and North Africa. He and his crew flew bombing missions over Southern Europe until VE Day. On one such mission, over Linz, Austria, flack struck the plane, crippling two of the planes' four engines, at which time Bill navigated the plane out of formation and returned to base. The crew was escorted on the return trip by fighter planes from Chappie James' fighter squadron. After dropping its payload over the Adriatic Sea, the plane was able to land safely back at the base. Bill was fond of telling this and many other stories about his experiences in the War and was truly a member of the "Greatest Generation."
After the War, Bill returned to Massachusetts where he and Helen then married. Bill completed his undergraduate education at the University of Florida and his post-graduate education at the Northwestern School of Dentistry in Chicago, Illinois. He and Helen then returned to Pensacola where Bill opened his dental practice, which he would operate for the next 40 years. Volunteering was Bill's way of giving back to Pensacola.
As son of Madison Langley Bell, Sr., Escambia County Clerk of Court for 44 years, and father of Madison ("Matt") Langley Bell, III, Escambia County Tax Collector for 21 years before passing away in October 1998, he was part of a family with a long tradition of public service.
Throughout his career, Bill volunteered his services as an oral surgeon at area hospitals and clinics. Bill also followed in his father's footsteps volunteering his time at the Langley Bell 4-H Camp, named for Madison Langley Bell, Sr., due to his gift to the Camp of the land on which it still operates today. Bill's public service achievements included being President of the Escambia County 4-H Foundation, Chairman/President of the Langley Bell 4-H Board of Trustees, Chairman and Member of the City County Drug Abuse Commission, Member of the Pensacola City Council, President of Escarosa District Boy Scouts of America, President of the Escarosa Dental Society and Life Member of Citadel Men. Bill spent his free time hunting and fishing in Florida and South Alabama as well in a number of western states and Canada.
Bill is survived by his wife of more than 60 years, Helen Lamothe Bell; his brother, William Reed, his four children, Keith, Bruce, Babette Bell and Beverly Bell Vannoy; his three daughters-in-law, Christine, Jeanne and Catherine; his sons-in-law Jeff Vannoy and Jay Schwartz; his grandsons, Madison, Keith Jr., Kevin, Christopher, Chaz, Bud, Clay and Nicholas; his granddaughters, Amy, Starlyn and Langley and his great grandchildren, Madeline, Maegan, Lucas, Brady and McKell.
Honorary Pallbearers will be Bill Baker, Bill Bond, Charles Crooke, Harry Kahn, Art Grebe and Paul Bruno.
Visitation will be held at the Cathedral of the Sacred Heart from 4-6 p.m. on Tuesday, December 22, 2009. Graveside Service will be held at Holy Cross Cemetery Mausoleum at 10:00 a.m. on Wednesday, December 23, 2009.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Langley Bell 4-H Center or Covenant Hospice. HARPER-MORRIS MEMORIAL Harper-Morris is in charge of the arrangements.
*****
Plot suggested on 19 Oct 2020 by Jerry Thomas; FIND A GRAVE ID 47420077
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