Richard Bell

SMSgt Richard Bell, USAF, Ret, RN, age 85, of Gulfport, passed away on July 8, 2008 in Gulfport.
He was preceded in death by his parents; a brother, Dr. Shirly Bell; a sister, Thelma Stankard; a son- in- law, Michael Crump; and two grandsons, Micah Wagner and Beau Bell.
Mr. Bell is survived by his loving wife of 62 years, Annie R.M. Bell, of Gulfport; his children, Dr. Claudia Wagner of D'Iberville, Jo Ann Crump of Gulfport, Bryan M. Bell and his wife, Kathy, of Slidell, LA, Jason C. Bell and his wife, Kelli, of Gulfport, Elizabeth Chapman of Alabama, Rosemary Stankard of Gulfport, Debbie Bell and her husband, Rob Gurwitz, of Newton, MA, Risa Bell and her husband, John DeVito, of Brooklyn, NY, and Mitchell Bell and his wife, Mary Ann, of Boston, MA; nine grandchildren, Justine Wheeler, Lee-Richard Crump, Jamie Allen, J.J. Crump, Haley M. Bell, Gabrielle Bell, Joshua Bell, and Bailey Romano; and nine great grandchildren.
He was a member of St. James Catholic Church, Gulfport. He retired from the U.S. Air Force as a Master Sergeant, having served in World War II and during the Korean Conflict and the Vietnam War. He was a registered nurse and served as nurse for the Gulfport and Biloxi jails throughout the 1980's. He was a former high school football, basketball, and baseball referee, and served as a referee in the Senior Bowl in Mobile. He was one of the officials who called the American All Star Football Game in Europe in 1956. Mr. Bell was a beloved, fun-loving father and grandfather and a heck of a dancer.
Memorials may be given to St. Vincent DePaul Pharmacy, 735 Division St, Biloxi, MS 39530.
The visitation will be held on Friday, July 11, 2008 from 6:30 PM until 9:00 PM at the RIEMANN FAMILY FUNERAL HOME, 11280 Three Rivers Rd, Gulfport. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Saturday, July 12, 2008 at 10:00 AM at St. James Catholic Church, Gulfport. Burial will follow with full military honors at St. James Cemetery.
An online obituary may be viewed and signed at www.riemannfamily.com.