Date of death: 8/18/2017
Saint Meinrad Class: O 1963
James (Jim) F. Bell of Bloomfield, Ind. died peacefully in his home Aug. 18, 2017. The oldest of 11 children, Jim was born in Indianapolis on Dec. 23, 1937.He is survived by his beloved wife of 55 years, Bonnie L. Bennett Bell, children James (Angie) Bell, Diane (Jack) Asher, Cheryl Bell, Cindy (Mike) Cavender, Christy (Jon) Glesing, Bob (Karin) Bell, and Julie Bell, sisters Barbara, Ann and Maureen Bell, Martha Jean Young, Kathy Crabill, and grandchildren Katelyn, Maggie and Jim Bell; Sam, Sarah and Rachel Cavender; Shannon, Ashley and Payton Glesing; and Collin, Caroline, Stephen, Nicholas and Matthew Bell.James was preceded in death by his parents Robert Noble and Martha A. (Heffernan) Bell, daughter Laurie Lynn Bell; brothers Robert, Stephen and Michael Bell and sisters Janet Brownlee and Karen VanBenthuysen.Jim enrolled in St. Meinrad, A Roman Catholic seminary for one year following his graduation from Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic grade school. He graduated from Cathedral High School and Indiana Central University (UIndy) and later attended Butler University.Jim traveled the globe for his career as an agricultural chemist for Eli Lilly and Company. He worked for more than 30 years at the companyÆs Greenfield location and retired from Dow AgroSciences in 1995.He also served as the president of the Booster Club at Scecina Memorial High School, where his children and Bonnie (1959) attended.He was a frequent traveler to Orr, Minnesota with his family in the summertime. He and Bonnie enjoyed cruises and traveling abroad as well as frequent trips to Florida, Myrtle Beach, the Philadelphia area, and Texas. They visited Indianapolis the most for Lunch Bunch with their grandkids and to cheer them on at school and sporting events.Jim was an outdoorsman and avid gardener, fisherman and huntsman. He also enjoyed woodworking, crossword puzzles, playing cards, board games and BonnieÆs home cooking