A resident of Morrisburg for the past four years, and long-time resident of Winchester, Ron Bell passed away at the Ottawa Heart Institute on Wednesday, December 28, 2016. He was 71.
Ron was born in Chesterville on November 3, 1945, to his parents Lorne and Lula Bell (nee Holmes).
Ron attended Winchester High School and North Dundas District High School.
After graduation, he became a store manager throughout many communities in Ontario for Woolworth’s, Beamish, and Army and Navy.
In 1978, with a young family, he decided to return to his roots and settled in Winchester, so he could be closer to relatives and friends.
He worked for Winchester Cheese for seventeen years as a department manager.
Ron, who gave his love of hockey to his sons, not only spent many hours at the rink, but he also became active in minor hockey as a referee, association executive, and league president. Later in life, he loved going to the rink as a proud poppa to cheer on his grandchildren.
Also, Ron enjoyed packing up the trailer and camping along the St. Lawrence River. Here he would spend his time fishing, reading his favourite books, or telling stories around the camp fire.
A yearly highlight for Ron was the Bell family reunion at his nephew Jim’s cottage every long weekend in August.
Throughout the years, the Bell household was often filled with friends playing cards, listening to Ron’s contagious laugh.
He was an extremely handy individual who was willing to help out anyone in need.
Ron had a sense of adventure; he went on many trips across Canada and around the world.
He spent nearly ten years in Bega, Australia, as an operations manager until his retirement in 2005.
His Vegas wedding to Sharon on Valentine’s Day, 2012, highlighted his passion for those he loved and for life itself.
Ron is survived by his wife Sharon Bell (nee Carkner), his sons Kevin (Crystal) of Winchester, Greg (Maureen) of Morewood, Barry (Sarah) of Orleans and his step-children Kim Merkley of Cornwall and Pamela Merkley (Scott Vizniowski) of Italy.
Ron will be fondly remembered by his grandchildren Curtis, Kylie, Kayla, Hayden, step-granddaughters Kristen (Sebastian), and Lindsay (Mike), step-grandson Nico and step-great-granddaughter Katherine.
He is survived by his sisters-in-law Debbie Smith and Patricia Bell.
He was predeceased by his parents Lorne and Lula Bell (nee Holmes), his brothers Gordon and Clarence and his wife Susan Cheslock. He is also survived by nieces and nephews.
Friends called at the Marsden and McLaughlin Funeral Home, Williamsburg, on Monday, January 2nd. Funeral service was held at Lakeshore Drive United Church in Morrisburg at 1 p.m., followed by a reception in Allan Hall.
Pallbearers were Kevin Bell, Greg A. Bell, Barry Bell, Curtis Bell, Bryan Bell, and Greg D. Bell.
Interment of cremated remains will be at Maple Ridge Cemetery in Chesterville at a later date. Donations to Lakeshore Drive United Church General Fund or Winchester District Memorial Hospital would be gratefully acknowledged by the family. Online condolences at marsdenmclaughlin.com.