Johnnie Charles Bell

NORTH RICHLAND HILLS -- Johnnie Charles "John" Bell of North Richland Hills passed away Monday, July 29, 2013. Memorial service: 10 a.m. Monday, Aug. 5, at First Baptist Church, Saginaw. Visitation: The family will receive friends at 9 a.m. Monday in the fellowship room of the church. A second memorial service will be held at First Baptist Church in Van Buren, Ark. Memorials: In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts can be made to Global Mission Fund, First Baptist Church, Box 79170, Saginaw, Texas 76179; or Open Hands Ministry, First Baptist Church, 1121 Main St., Van Buren, Ark. 72956. He was born Dec. 14, 1934, in Fort Smith, Ark., to Fletcher and Mary Jamison Bell. He was a member of First Baptist Church of Saginaw, where he served on the Mission Team. He was a former member of First Baptist Church of Van Buren, Ark., where he served as a Bible teacher, deacon and in the Open Hands Ministry. Earlier, the Bells had lived in three pioneer mission areas. He served as president of the Baptist Convention of Pennsylvania/South Jersey. He also made mission trips in North America, Europe and India. He was a graduate of Van Buren High School, Westark College and the University of Arkansas. He served in the U.S. Navy during the Korean War, making an around-the-world tour in 1954 aboard the destroyer USS Ross. John worked with McCrory's Stores as a store manager and as its national employee and labor relations director. He retired from Wal-mart Stores as vice president of human resources of its distribution system. John was an avid golfer. Having played the Old Course, St. Andrews, Scotland, and making a hole in one were among his favorite memories. John was preceded in death by his parents; stepmother; and a brother, Jim Bell. Survivors: Wife, the former Nadean Riley Bell; daughter, Cindy Macon and husband, Roger, of Newark; grandsons, Alan Macon and wife, Jenn, of Keller and Ben Macon and wife, Jasmine, of El Paso; great-granddaughter, Madison Macon; sister, Mary Coble of Van Buren, Ark.; brothers, Gene Bell of Van Buren, Ark., and Carl Bell of Springdale, Ark.; stepbrother, Dolan Pitts of Clearwater, Fla.; and several nieces and nephews. To send flowers or a memorial gift to the family of Johnnie Charles Bell please visit our Sympathy Store.