Roscoe L. Bell

Roscoe L. Bell, survived by his daughter (Alice Davis) and son (Stephen Bell), and their families, passed away on June 1, 2015 after a long and remarkable life of 97 years. He was born on March 25, 1918 in Muncie, IN. After completing his primary education there, he enrolled at the University of Kentucky but at the start of World War II, dropped out to enlist in the Army Air Corps. During the war, he flew P-40, P-47, and C-47 aircraft primarily in the Asian Theater of Operations. Following the war, he transitioned to the U.S. Air Force and was stationed in Alaska where he flew the B-29 multi-engine bomber. Later, he was one of the first people to fly the brand new B-47 jet bomber which he said was fun to fly but scary to land. Before his flying career was over, he had flown over 10 different kinds of Air Force aircraft. He spent the latter part of his career as a staff officer in Strategic Air Command. While there, he experienced the terrifying ordeal of the Cuban Missile Crisis while in the famed underground command post at Offutt Air Force Base, NE. His last assignment was at the Directorate Of Nuclear Surety at Kirtland AFB outside Albuquerque, NM. He retired as a Colonel in 1971 after 30 distinguished years of service. He received numerous decorations and medals during his career but the ones he treasured the most were the ones awarded to him for his service during WWII. Upon retirement, he became a stock broker at RauscherPierce Securities until his final retirement in 1986. His kids, three grandchildren, four great-grandchildren, and other family members and friends are saddened by his passing but happy in the knowledge that he has joined his wife, Veretta, in heaven. They had been married for 64 years when she died on her birthday, Nov. 13, 2012. His family firmly believe they were great people of the "Greatest Generation." Roscoe actively attended Hoffmantown Church, 8888 Harper Dr. NE, for over 35 years and his extraordinary life will be celebrated there on Saturday, June 6, 2015 at 11:00 a.m. FRENCH - Wyoming 7121 Wyoming Blvd. NE (505) 823-9400