Obituary of Richard E. Bell

Richard Edward Bell, age 79, entered into eternal rest on July 2, 2006, at his home in Watchung after a long illness. Mr. Bell was born in Frederick, Maryland to Harry and Sadie (Strube) Bell. He had been a resident of Watchung since 1962, previously residing in Summit. He retired from the U.S. Postal Service, Summit, NJ, in 1985 and the Watchung Board of Education in 1989. Mr. Bell served in the U.S. Army from 19431952 under General Patton in WW II fighting on Omaha Beach and in the Battle of the Bulge. He was the recipient of the Army of Occupation Medal, European African Middle Eastern Campaign Medal, WWII Victory Medal, Occupation Medal-Germany. Mr. Bell was also a member of VFW Post 4949 in Martinsville and the American Legion Post 0209, Scotch Plains. Mr. Bell was predeceased by one sister and two brothers. He is survived by his wife of 53 years, Grace (Guzzardi) Bell; his four children, Richard and his wife Gail of Bernardsville; Stephan and his wife Linda of Forks Township, PA; Sharon Merkle and her husband Elliot of New Fairfield, CT.; and Janet Stofik and her husband David of Madison. Also surviving are his sisters, Mary Gibbons and Pauline Dasher and brother Harry all of Maryland; 10 grandchildren and several nieces and nephews. A memorial gathering will be held on Friday, July 7, from 2-4 & 7-9 at the Higgins Home for Funerals, 752 Mountain Blvd. Watchung, NJ. A memorial service will be held on Saturday, July 8, at 10:00 am in the funeral home. Enichment will follow at St. Marys Stony Hill Mausoleum, Watchung. In lieu of flowers donations can be made to the American Diabetes Association, 19 School House Road, Somerset, NJ 08873 or the Deborah Heart & Lung Center, 200 Trenton Road, Browns Mills, NJ 08015.