Mr. Joseph Wellington “Joe” Bell Sr., age 67, a resident of 7065 Hwy. 99 North, Pantego, died Friday, March 3, 2017 at Vidant Beaufort Hospital of Washington.

A funeral service will be held 3:00 p.m. Tuesday, March 7, 2017 at Union Grove Church of Christ officiated by Scott Askew. Burial will follow in the Davis Cemetery of Pantego. Pallbearers will be Alvin Credle, Gregory Bell, Ryan Bell, Kevin Bell, Drew Bell, Eric Bell, Casey Bell and David Braxton. Honorary pallbearers will be Benny Rose, Michael Bishop, Reggie Bishop III and Zack Wright.

Mr. Joe was born in Beaufort County on March 10, 1949, son of the late Jurden Braxton Bell Sr. and the late Henrietta Hodges Bell. He was a 1968 graduate of Pantego High School. On September 22, 1970, he married the former Mary Anna Lewis who preceded him in death on November 14, 2010. He continued the family tradition as a self-employed farmer. His memberships included Union Grove Church of Christ, Ancient Free & Accepted Masonic Lodge 0509 of Belhaven, Sudan Shriners and Calvary Commander #25 Knights Templar Moye Chapter of Washington.

Survivors include son: Joseph W. “Jody” Bell Jr. (Melody) of Texarkana, AR; son Billy Joe Bell (Michelle) of Washington; daughter: Melissa Bell Keech (Anthony) of Washington; son Ralph Jarvis (Christy) of Southern Shores; brother: Roland W. Bell (Karen) of Pantego; sister: Mary Ella Bell Respess (Hassell) of Belhaven; brother-in-law: Zeno Wright of Pantego and grandchildren: Megan Bell, Hunter Bell, Braxton Bell, Jordan Bell, Brady Daniels, Mason Bell, Bentley Bell, Joseph Avery Respass, Sydney Keech, Andrew Keech, Garrett Keech and Harrison Jarvis. Mr. Joe was predeceased by a brother: Jurden B. “J.B.” Bell Jr.; a sister: Carolyn Bell Wright and his fiancée Judy Lamb.

Flowers are welcome or the family kindly asks for any memorial contributions be made to Shriner’s Hospital for Children, 2900 Rocky Point Dr., Tampa, FL 33607-1460 or St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, P.O. Box 1000, Dept. 142, Memphis, TN 38148.

Online condolences may be offered to the family by visiting www.paulfuneralhome.com.

Paul Funeral Home & Crematory of Washington is honored to serve the Bell family.