1928
Donald
2014
Donald Robert Bell
August 30, 1928 — February 10, 2014
Donald, the son of Stanley and Ellen Bell, was born August 30, 1928 in Santa Barbara, California and passed away peacefully with family by his side on Monday February 10, 2014, in San Diego, California. As a young child his family relocated to San Diego. He had been a resident of Harbor City for many years before returning to the San Diego area to be closer to family. Donald was preceded in death by Dorothea (Dottie), his beloved wife of 49 years in 2011.
One of Donald's proudest accomplishments was being accepted at the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis. Being an engineer, Donald served multiple years in the U.S. Navy and had an extensive career in the defense industry. Donald worked at Hughes Aircraft, one of the most recognizable and respected names in aerospace engineering, where he was involved in various aspects of aviation science, intelligence, and information systems for almost 40 years as a senior staff engineer. Being an engineer at Hughes Aircraft allowed him to assist with the first soft landing on the moon. In addition, Donald's passion was having his loving wife, Dottie, by his side as they gave tireless energy to the Shriners and the Mosonic Lodge. His passions, other than memories of his children and devoted wife Dottie, were fishing, music, and reading from his eclectic collection of books.
Donald is survived by two children, Theodore (Ted) Bell and wife Shannon of Salem Oregon; Donna Vaum and her husband Robert (Bob) of Roseville, California; his brother Stanley Bell and wife Shirley of Spring Valley, California; two grandchildren, granddaughter Kelly (Vaum) Hoang and her husband Johnson of Pleasant Hill, California; grandson, Tyler Vaum of Sacramento, California; and his beautiful great-granddaughter, Marlowe Hoang.
The memorial service will be held on Tuesday, February 18, 2014 at 11:00 a.m. in the Green Hills Memorial Chapel in Rancho Palos Verdes, California. Interment will immediately follow. In lieu of flowers, please make donations to your local chapter of the Shriners.
Funeral Home:
Green Hills Mortuary and Memorial Chapel
27501 S.Western Ave.
Rancho Palos Verdes, CA
US 90275
One of Donald's proudest accomplishments was being accepted at the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis. Being an engineer, Donald served multiple years in the U.S. Navy and had an extensive career in the defense industry. Donald worked at Hughes Aircraft, one of the most recognizable and respected names in aerospace engineering, where he was involved in various aspects of aviation science, intelligence, and information systems for almost 40 years as a senior staff engineer. Being an engineer at Hughes Aircraft allowed him to assist with the first soft landing on the moon. In addition, Donald's passion was having his loving wife, Dottie, by his side as they gave tireless energy to the Shriners and the Mosonic Lodge. His passions, other than memories of his children and devoted wife Dottie, were fishing, music, and reading from his eclectic collection of books.
Donald is survived by two children, Theodore (Ted) Bell and wife Shannon of Salem Oregon; Donna Vaum and her husband Robert (Bob) of Roseville, California; his brother Stanley Bell and wife Shirley of Spring Valley, California; two grandchildren, granddaughter Kelly (Vaum) Hoang and her husband Johnson of Pleasant Hill, California; grandson, Tyler Vaum of Sacramento, California; and his beautiful great-granddaughter, Marlowe Hoang.
The memorial service will be held on Tuesday, February 18, 2014 at 11:00 a.m. in the Green Hills Memorial Chapel in Rancho Palos Verdes, California. Interment will immediately follow. In lieu of flowers, please make donations to your local chapter of the Shriners.
Funeral Home:
Green Hills Mortuary and Memorial Chapel
27501 S.Western Ave.
Rancho Palos Verdes, CA
US 90275
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