Wendell Bell

WENDELL DEAN BELL

Cedar Rapids

Wendell Dean Bell died peacefully in his sleep on Nov. 30, 2018, in New Braunfels, Texas, next to his wife of 68 years. He was 97 years old.

Wendell was born Jan. 26, 1921, in Grove, Kan. His mother was Lillian Todd Bell, and his father was Perry Achilles Bell, both of Salina, Kan. His father worked for Union Pacific Railroad, and his mother was the teacher in the town's one-room school.

Wendell graduated from Kansas State University, where he was a member of Blue Key and Mortar & Ball Honor societies. Mr. Bell was featured in Who's Who in American Colleges and Universities and was captain of the K-State baseball team, playing first base. He was a member of Delta Tau Delta Fraternity. He left college to serve in the Army during World War II, where he served in the 336th Field Artillery Battalion of the U.S. Army at the Battle of the Bulge. Wendell returned to K-State after honorable discharge to finish his degree. He met his wife Ann shortly after graduation while working in Kansas City.

Mr. Bell was a CPA who worked for Pete Marwick Mitchell in Kansas City and Cedar Rapids, Iowa, where he and his family lived for more than 30 years. He was a founding partner of Bell & Van Zee, which was later acquired by McGladrey. While in Cedar Rapids, Wendell was an avid golfer at Elmcrest Country Club, served as an elder of Westminster Presbyterian Church, and served on the boards of Certified Public Accountants of Iowa, Kansas and Missouri. After retiring, he moved to Texas, where he continued to golf into his late 80s, "golfing his age" as his friends used to say.

He was preceded in death by his brother, William Perry Bell; and his sister, Anna Lora Bell Davis.

He is survived by his wife, Ruth Ann Redding Bell; and their four children, Mary Sue Bell, Wendy Bell, James and (Nancy) Bell and Roxanne Bell Casscells; and five grandchildren, Christopher Bell, Cody Bell, Samuel Casscells, Henry Casscells and Lillian Casscells.

A private family ceremony will be held.