Ernest W. Bell, Jr.

Ernest W. Bell, Jr. (Woody), age 89, passed away on Feb. 18, 2016. He was born in Tampa, Florida, on March 6, 1926, to Ernest and Alice (Kennard) Bell.

He graduated from Plant High School in 1944 and attended Furman University.

His wife Dorothy Fuller Bell, son Donald K. Bell and his brother Francis Bell preceded him in death.

He is survived by his lifelong friend and companion Joy Blew; sons Jeffery Bell (Phillip Markley) and Richard Bell (Robin); daughter-in-law Sharon Bell; sister-in-law Susan Bell; six grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

Woody lived in Tampa, Fla., Atlanta and Blairsville, Ga. and Langley, Wash., making friends in each of these places. He was a radio and television engineer, and retired from WTVT in Tampa, and WGNX in Atlanta. He served as a radioman in the U.S. Navy in WWII and the Korean War. Music was important to him all his life. He played in dance and marching bands, and sang in choirs in Tampa, Blairsville and Langley. He had a beautiful bass voice and was a wonderful dancer. He acted with the Licklog Players in North Carolina. He was a woodcarver and basket weaver and enjoyed other crafts. He loved history and genealogy, and was a scholar of the Civil War. He engaged in lifelong learning.

Woody was loved by his family and will be greatly missed. A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. Sunday, April 17, at Langley United Methodist Church, Third and Anthes in Langley. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Friends of Friends Medical Support Fund (P.O. Box 812, Langley WA 98260) or Senior Services of Island County, South Whidbey (14594 SR 525, Langley WA 98260).