Joseph Powell Bell Jr.
April 12, 1939 — February 20, 2023
Joseph Powell Bell Jr., age 83, passed away on Monday, February 20, 2023 at Fairfax, Virginia. He was the loving husband of Sara D. Bell. Born in Bessemer, Alabama on April 12, 1939, he was the son of Joseph P. Bell and Verna C. Bell.
Mr. Bell was a graduate of the University of Alabama and worked as an engineer for the majority of his professional life. He was a mining safety specialist for many years and also worked in safety control for US Steel. His career motto was to “err on the side of caution.” Though he worked diligently to reduce risks in an industry where work was often dangerous, he was always willing to risk himself to protect others. While others evacuated for their safety, he courageously went into life-threatening situations. He concluded his career at the University of Alabama at Birmingham as a facilities analyst. He remained an active member of the Society for Mining, Metallurgy & Exploration and the University of Alabama Alumni Association until his passing. He was an avid gardener and spent many a retirement hour outside caring for his beautiful lawn.
In 1958 he fell in love with the young nurse who had briefly cared for his mother. The spark was mutual. They were married on December 24, Christmas Eve, 1959. He and Sara celebrated their 63rd wedding anniversary this past December. He was a loving father to his daughters Judy and Cathy. He and Sara raised their family in Pleasant Grove, Alabama since 1965. Their home there would eventually become a summer and holiday refuge for their four grandchildren. “Grandaddy” would join them in childhood adventures as they had tea parties, explored the antiques in the basement, learned about the tools in the barn, shot BB guns, built forts, and, of course, helped with the yardwork.
Mr. Bell and his wife relocated to Northern Virginia in November of 2022. He attended the First Baptist Church of Pleasant Grove for many years and most recently attended the Fairfax Baptist Church in Fairfax, Virginia.
He was preceded in death by his parents and his brother, Jerry Bell.
He is survived by his wife Sara Deason Bell, daughters Judy Bell and Cathy Bell Tricquet (Joby), grandchildren Lauren Sanders (Jonathan), Austin Tricquet (Courtney), Tyler Tricquet, and Jordan Tricquet (Esther), great-grand children Jon Sanders and Hannah Sanders, a niece and nephews.
A Celebration of Life Service will be held on Saturday, February 25 at 11:00 AM at the Patterson Forest Grove Funeral Home, 1498 5th Avenue Pleasant Grove AL 35127, with interment at Forest Grove Memorial Gardens following the service. Visitation will be from 10 AM until service time at the funeral home.
Fairfax Memorial Funeral Home in Fairfax, Virginia assisted in the arrangements.
Mr. Bell was a graduate of the University of Alabama and worked as an engineer for the majority of his professional life. He was a mining safety specialist for many years and also worked in safety control for US Steel. His career motto was to “err on the side of caution.” Though he worked diligently to reduce risks in an industry where work was often dangerous, he was always willing to risk himself to protect others. While others evacuated for their safety, he courageously went into life-threatening situations. He concluded his career at the University of Alabama at Birmingham as a facilities analyst. He remained an active member of the Society for Mining, Metallurgy & Exploration and the University of Alabama Alumni Association until his passing. He was an avid gardener and spent many a retirement hour outside caring for his beautiful lawn.
In 1958 he fell in love with the young nurse who had briefly cared for his mother. The spark was mutual. They were married on December 24, Christmas Eve, 1959. He and Sara celebrated their 63rd wedding anniversary this past December. He was a loving father to his daughters Judy and Cathy. He and Sara raised their family in Pleasant Grove, Alabama since 1965. Their home there would eventually become a summer and holiday refuge for their four grandchildren. “Grandaddy” would join them in childhood adventures as they had tea parties, explored the antiques in the basement, learned about the tools in the barn, shot BB guns, built forts, and, of course, helped with the yardwork.
Mr. Bell and his wife relocated to Northern Virginia in November of 2022. He attended the First Baptist Church of Pleasant Grove for many years and most recently attended the Fairfax Baptist Church in Fairfax, Virginia.
He was preceded in death by his parents and his brother, Jerry Bell.
He is survived by his wife Sara Deason Bell, daughters Judy Bell and Cathy Bell Tricquet (Joby), grandchildren Lauren Sanders (Jonathan), Austin Tricquet (Courtney), Tyler Tricquet, and Jordan Tricquet (Esther), great-grand children Jon Sanders and Hannah Sanders, a niece and nephews.
A Celebration of Life Service will be held on Saturday, February 25 at 11:00 AM at the Patterson Forest Grove Funeral Home, 1498 5th Avenue Pleasant Grove AL 35127, with interment at Forest Grove Memorial Gardens following the service. Visitation will be from 10 AM until service time at the funeral home.
Fairfax Memorial Funeral Home in Fairfax, Virginia assisted in the arrangements.
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