John Thomas Bell

John Thomas Bell, 80, of Bucyrus, died Wednesday, December 31, 2014 at Heartland of Bucyrus following a four year battle with cancer.

He was born February 19, 1934 in Elco, Pennsylvania but grew up and attended school in Charleroi before moving to Bucyrus and graduating from Bucyrus High School. John married Margaret Salisbury on August 7, 1954 and she survives.

He was a hard working individual who worked at General Motors in Ontario for 31 years before retirement and then took the position of City Service Director for Bucyrus while Mayor Robert Laipply was in office.

John was raised in the Methodist church and was more recently a member of Kirkpatrick UMC until moving into the city and then attended Bucyrus UMC until his decline in health. John was also a former member of the Bucyrus Masonic Lodge and the Valley of Columbus, Aladdin Shrine.

John and Margaret were privileged to have vacationed in many parts of the world with various friends and family members. More recent trips to Branson, Mo. with his grandchildren stood out among his favorites. His life revolved around family and they spent many weekends of camping and fishing at Charles Mill Lake. In the past, it was a family Thanksgiving tradition for some to go rabbit hunting and John also did some deer hunting over the years. He supported his Pittsburgh Steelers and OSU football and loved attending Steelers games when he got the chance. For relaxation, he liked to work in the yard and cut firewood.

Along with Margaret, his wife of 60 years, John is survived by three children, Bob (Rindy) Bell of Crestline, John (Renee) Bell, Sr. of Bucyrus and Cindy (Mark) Whiteamire of Marion; nine grandchildren who thought he was a pretty amazing and funny guy and loved spending time with him, Chris Bell, Matt Bell, Sarah Bell and fiancé, Tyler Burkhart, Naomi Bell, Rachel Bell, Grace Bell, John Bell, Jr., Kendall (A. Reignier) Nohay and their son, Isaac and Brandon (Kelly) Whiteamire. Also surviving are two brothers, William (Corrine) Bell of Sandusky and H. Richard (Ann Mae) Bell of Lakeside and two sisters-in-law, Hope Amos and Helen “Toots” Salisbury.

John was preceded in death by his parents, John D. and Grace E. (Tharp) Bell and two brothers-in-law, Donald Amos and James Salisbury.

His family will receive friends from 4-7 p.m. Friday, January 2 at Wise Funeral Service. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. Saturday at Bucyrus UMC Worship Center (corner of Warren and Walnut St.) with Pastor Mike Corwin and Pastor John Grimm officiating. Burial will follow in Crawford County Memory Gardens.

Memorial contributions may be given to HomeCare Matters or Bucyrus UMC through the funeral home. Expressions of sympathy may be left in the Memorial Guestbook below.



Visitation:

Friday, January 2, 2015 4-7 p.m.

Wise Funeral Service, 129 W. Warren St., Bucyrus, Ohio 44820



Service:

Saturday, January 3, 2015 11:00 a.m.

Bucyrus United Methodist Church, 227 S. Walnut St., Bucyrus, Ohio 44820



Cemetery:

Crawford County Memory Gardens, 6592 Old Lincoln Highway, Crestline, Ohio 44827