Robert Eugene

Bell

After a long life of repeatedly overcoming death, Robert Eugene Bell (Bob Bell), 86, joined his beloved wife in heaven on December 31, 2022.
He was born in Ballinger, Texas on August 8, 1936 to Carroll Border Bell and Saluda Ann Jones-Bell. They moved back and forth between Texas and California every year or so until eventually settling down in California.

In 1955 he joined the Navy, became a Ship Electrician (EMP2) and served 2 years active duty on the U.S.S. Maddox. After the Navy, he decided to search for a wife. He checked which church had more pretty girls in the area and chose the First Baptist in Bellflower, California where he met his wife, Madeline. They were married in 1959.

He worked hard at multiple jobs to buy a house and provide for his expanding family. Ten years later, he had 3 children, a house in Simi Valley, California and a job working for Burroughs (now IBM) fixing adding machines. But he had always had a heart for Mexico, even as a child. After a profound experience with God in 1968, he sold the house and packed his 3 children and their possessions in a small blue Datsun station wagon with a trailer and headed for Mexico City to join the ministries of Ford Wilson and Wayne Meyers.

While in Mexico City Bob met Ken Sumrall, pastor and founder of Liberty Church, and founder of Globe International and Liberty Bible College. Paster Sumrall encouraged him to come to the Bible school before continuing his mission work. After prayer, the family headed to Pensacola Florida and during the days he worked at Burroughs again while attending Liberty Bible College at night. He graduated in 1972, was ordained and was one of the first missionaries to be launched by Globe International. He and his wife Madeline ministered for 46 years in Mexico. He also spent many years as a chaplain for the hospital and the federal prison in Del Rio Texas

His beloved wife Madeline died in 2015 after 56 years of marriage. Shortly thereafter he was diagnosed with terminal cancer and moved in with his youngest daughter Sheryl and her family in Seymour, Texas. From there he continued his ministry by ordering bibles for churches, teaching classes at the First Methodist Church, and providing counsel and guidance to the many pastors that continued to call him.
He is survived by his children and their spouses: Kathleen (KB) Whitmore and Ted, Clifton Bell and Dianne, and Sheryl Lynn Campos and Joe; his grandchildren: Lindsey Campos, Angela Bell, Adam Parker*, Jeremiah Bell, Rose Parker*, Tabitha Bell, Lauren Mason, James Campos, Ashley Bell; and his great-grandchildren: Rhyder Brooks, Liam Gonzalez and Weston Mason.
*Honorary Grandchildren

***The family sends their sincere thanks to Kristi Novak of CenterWell Home Heath and the nurses and staff at Beyond Faith Hospice for their amazing care and support during his final days. ***