Odie G. Bell

December 17, 2014

Odie G. Bell went to be with the Lord on December 16, 2014, with his family by his side. He and his twin brother, Omer Clayton Bell, were born on April 18, 1922, in Octavia, Oklahoma.

He was predeceased in death by his father, Edgar Houston Bell, and his mother, Willie Mathus Bell, six brothers and one sister.

He is survived by his daughters, Belinda (Johnny) Whitfield, Deborah (Louie) Kemp, Theresa Baker and Elaine (Jeff) Seay; son, Michael Bell; and step-son, Davon Bell; 10 grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren; and one great-great grandson.

Odie was a WWII Navy pilot and after his military service, he and his twin brother, Omer, started their own crop dusting business in Texas. In 1954, Odie later went on to establish the Bell Flying Service at the Pensacola Municipal Airport and was both owner and manager until 1963. In 1963 he moved to Enterprise, Alabama, and became a civilian helicopter flight instructor at Fort Rucker, Alabama, until his retirement after 30 years. He and his twin brother, Omer, were fortunate to have participated in the first Honor Flight from Pensacola to Washington, DC, honoring WWII veterans.

He was a passionate and adventurous individual who loved his family, flying, hunting, college football and lived life to its fullest. He never met a stranger and loved to reminisce about his many past adventures. He will be deeply missed and warmly remembered by all those blessed to have known him.

Visitation will be held on Saturday, December 20, 2014, at 10 a.m. at Faith Chapel Funeral Home North. Funeral services will immediately follow at 11 a.m. with Chaplain Mark Smith officiating.

Graveside services will be held at Little Flock Primitive Baptist Church in Molino.

Pallbearers will be Johnny Whitfield, Louie Kemp, Bubba Peters, Michael Jones, Darren Williams and Houston Wright.

The family would like to extend a special thanks to the staff at The Terrace at Ivy Acres in Jay and Emerald Coast Hospice for all their compassionate and loving care for him and his family during his illness.

In lieu of flowers the family would like to request that donations may be made to The Terrace at Ivey Acres, 3964 Florida Avenue, Jay, Florida 32565.

Faith Chapel Funeral Home North is in charge of arrangements.

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Written by Jane · Filed Under Obituaries