Frederick “Neil” Bell Jr.
Frederick “Neil” Bell Jr. of Westtown passed away on April 1 at Chester County Hospital in West Chester. For 55 years he was the loving and devoted husband of the late Suanne Phillips Bell. He was 85.
Born in Philadelphia, Neil was the son of the late Frederick Neil Bell Sr. and Cornelia Van Alen Bell. He grew up in Swarthmore and graduated from Swarthmore High School in 1953. He then attended the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where he majored in English.
Neil joined the U.S. Navy in the late 1950s, serving his country aboard the USS Enterprise, an aircraft carrier. Afterwards, he began a 34-year career with Philadelphia Electric Company, as a steamfitter foreman at various PECO plants in the Philadelphia area.
Neil was a longtime member of the Media Presbyterian Church, where he faithfully served as deacon, sound-system manager, and volunteer for Habitat for Humanity in Chester. Neil enjoyed fishing, golf, gardening, reading, travel, and the Philadelphia Eagles and Phillies, but most of all his family.
Neil is survived by his daughter, Laurel “Laurie” Bell Davis, son-in-law, Dwight Davis, and granddaughters, Kylee and Maeve Davis, all of Wallingford, as well as his sister-in-law, Jacqueline Stine of Chester Springs. Neil now joins his two older brothers, Dick (Dottie) and Bill (Kitty) Bell, who passed away years ago. Neil was fortunate to be surrounded by a large extended family of nieces and nephews and their children, most of whom reside in the Philadelphia area.
Neil was known as a quiet, thoughtful, and caring husband and father. He always had an opinion, which he delivered with a dry sense of humor. He was first and foremost a family man, dedicated to his late wife, Suanne, and his daughter, Laurie. Neil took great pride in watching his granddaughters grow up and attend college, praising their efforts to excel in their studies and activities. He will be greatly missed by family and friends.
Relatives and friends are invited to visitation on Saturday, April 10, from 10 to 10:45 a.m., at the Media Presbyterian Church, followed by his memorial service at 11 a.m. Information about the livestream of the service will be available here: dellafh.com/obituary/Frederick-BellJr.
Interment will be private.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association of Delaware Valley, 399 Market Street, Suite 102, Philadelphia, PA 19016, or the New Jersey Division of Fish and Wildlife, Wildlife Conservation Corps, 26 Route 173, Hampton, NJ 08827.
Arrangements by DellaVecchia, Reilly, Smith, and Boyd Funeral Home of West Chester. 610-696-1181.
