William David “Bill” Bell, eldest son of Donald and Dorothy Bell passed March 10, 2024 at the age of 93. We are grateful that he passed peacefully with his family at his side and lovingly cared for by the staff at Evangelical Health in Saline MI. Our “Dad” to the end, he was most concerned that his children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren are all well and happy; bills are paid, arrangements made. We know Dad was welcomed with open arms into Heaven by Mom (“Billie”), daughter Jane, his parents, and the many friends, family and faithful pets who preceded him in death.
A thoughtful, loyal, honest person who believed in service, Bill was always involved in his community whether as the Mayor, school board member, volunteer police officer, HOA President, club President, or Board Member of a charity.
Bill loved his and Billie’s 102-acre farm in Monterey, MA. He spent most summers on a ladder with a paint brush in his hand, chopping wood and tending his garden. Stories from the annual Fall gatherings with their fun group of friends from Bronxville are legendary, including the barn “lowering”, costume parties, and skeet shooting.
Bill was born in Detroit, MI, attended Highland Park High, and graduated from the University of Michigan in 1952 with a BA in Business Administration. While at UM he was a Student Manager for the football team and President of his fraternity, SAE, as a Senior. He later received his Master of Arts in Military Studies from American Military University, focusing on the Civil War, in 2002.
Bill joined Ford Motor Company in 1952, but shortly afterward, shipped off to Japan where he was stationed as a Counter-Intelligence Corps Officer with the U.S. Army during the Korean War. Returning stateside in 1954, he rejoined Ford until joining IBM Corporation in 1957, where he worked in sales and finance until retiring in 1987. Bill and Billie raised their family in Bronxville, NY and Monterey, MA; later moving to Ann Arbor, MI, Longboat Key, Fl and Lancaster, PA after Bill’s retirement. After Billie’s death, Bill eventually returned to Michigan and settled in Dexter in 2019.
Bill’s life is celebrated by his children, Barbara (Alain Lachaud), Betsy (Long), Becky (McGrath), John (Laurie), Robert (Astrid), and (David Stoneking); grandchildren, great grandchildren, and all who feel honored to call him a friend.
Per Dad’s request there will not be a memorial service. He will be buried with Billie by his side in Monterey, MA.
We will miss him.
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