Robert Hamilton Bell

Robert Hamilton Bell, 84, of Washington died Thursday, December 26, 2018, in The Washington Hospital after an eighteen-month long battle with lung cancer. He was born in Washington on September 27, 1934 to the late Dr. Ray McKee and Opal Ryan Bell of Claysville.

He attended the Claysville Schools where he played baseball and basketball player throughout high school and was also an Eagle Scout. He also enjoyed years of playing sandlot baseball for Claysville.

Bob graduated from Washington and Jefferson College in 1956 with a Bachelor’s degree in History and Economics, and later went on to become a U.S. Army Federal Reserve soldier and attended the U.S. Army Finance School at Fort Benjamin Harrison, Indiana.

He was employed by Jessop Steel, now ATI, and retired with 42 years’ service. While at Jessop, he worked in many different locations throughout the plant and was an Inside Sales Manager at his time of retirement.

Bob belonged to F. & A.M. Lodge #447 of Claysville as well as Avery United Methodist Church.

He spent family vacations for years fishing for largemouth bass in Seeley’s Bay, Ontario. Later in life, he took time to travel and enjoyed family trips to many US locations in his R.V., such as Myrtle Beach, S.C., Yellowstone, and the Smoky Mountains.

Bob was very proactive with household updates and projects, which included both interior and exterior painting and installing hardwood throughout his home. He was descended from many of the first Washington County settlers and took great interest in local and family history. He owned many pieces of furniture that had been passed down as family heirlooms.

He belonged to two golf leagues and played regularly while health permitted. He was an avid newspaper reader. He was a passionate wild bird lover and fed his feathered friends an average of 50 lb. of black Sunflower seed each week year-round.

On May 9, 1958, he married Joan Moore Bell who survives. Also surviving are daughter D’Arcy [Joseph D. Davis] of Washington and granddaughter D’Andra J. Davis of Washington.

A brother Richard R. [Jill Schultz] Bell of Sun City Center, Fla., two nieces Raegan Bell [Mark Rodriquez], Tampa, Fla., and Jillene Bell [Charles Keene], Lithia, Fla., cousin Richard [Judy Cavanagh] Morrow, of Connellsville, Pa., sister-in-Law Cheryl Moore [Roger] Gilmore, Hannibal, Ohio, brother-in-law Glenn [Nancy Clegg] Moore, Shady Side, Ohio, two aunt’s-in-law Dorothy McMurray, West Alexander, Pa.

and Pauline Bryant, Wellsburg, WV., two caring neighbors Kim and Bill Shoup, and his sweet chihuahua, Minnie.

A private prayer will be offered by Rev. Walter Stevenson and the Claysville Masonic Lodge at the Washington Cemetery Serenity Chapel Mausoleum on Saturday, December 29, 2018. Arrangements are entrusted to Young Funeral Home & Cremation Services, Inc. 219 Main Street, Claysville, PA 15323 (724) 663-7373 www.youngfhinc.com

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