UTICA — A funeral service for James W. Bell, 83, of Utica, will be held Saturday, June 4, at 11 a.m. at Law-Baker Funeral Home with Alan Pratt officiating. Burial will follow in South Lawn Cemetery with military honors provided by Licking County Veterans Alliance.
Jim died May 29, 2011, at the Inn at SharonBrooke, Newark. He was born Sept. 9, 1927, in Utica to the late Cless and Marie (Wilson) Bell. He was a member of Masonic Lodge 291, F&AM Utica, a 32nd Degree Mason, the Knox and Licking Shrine Club and UTK Club. Jim was a Navy veteran. Jim was a lifetime “oilman” working in the oil well drilling business the majority of his working years. Jim was owner of Bell & Wray Drilling, Bell Drilling and B & J Drilling.
He is survived by his son and daughter-in-law, Todd P. and Vonda Bell, and grandson, Grant Bell, all of Overland Park, Kan.; grandson, Greg Bell of Fort Myers, Fla.; sister and brother-in-law, Vivian and Neil Overly of Fredericktown; and brother-in-law, Richard Preston of Newark.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Louise M. (Preston) Bell, who passed away Feb. 9, 2006.
Friends may call Friday, June 3, from 7 to 9 p.m., with 6:30 p.m. Masonic Service at Law-Baker Funeral Home, 34 N. Main St., Utica.
Visit http://www.law-bakerfuneralhome.com to extend condolences to the family.
