Thomas Bell

Thomas Dale Bell was born April 6, 1938 in Tulsa Oklahoma.  His parents lived a simple life and instilled in him the values of family, honesty and integrity as well as his love for the great outdoors.

Tom attended the University of Oklahoma and pledged the Phi Delta Theta fraternity.  It was there that he met a Kappa Kappa Gamma , Frances Lander, also from Tulsa.  Fran was the love of his life and wife of over 63 years. Upon graduation in 1960, Tom took a job with Wagner Brake and Lighting.  Tom worked for Wagner for over 22 years and his career there culminated with the Presidency of the company.  Throughout his life, Fran & Tom were often relocated. They lived in  Chicago, Illinois; St. Louis, Missouri; Short Hills, New Jersey and Wynnewood, Pennsylvania.  And during that time, their 3 children, Mark, David & Katy were born.

Tom followed in the footsteps of his own upbringing by continuing to instill the same values in his children that his parents had done for him.  He shared his love for the great outdoors by taking his family camping, canoeing, fishing, hunting, skiing and golfing throughout their lives.  Fran and Tom joined Ocean Reef in 2002 and moved to the club after his retirement in 2004. There he was able to enjoy his most favorite outdoor hobbies of Golf & Fishing.  Tom will be most remembered for his love for his family and the OU Sooners, his quick wit, booming voice, the twinkle in his blue eyes, a wry grin, and his fondness for Dewers.

Tom passed away on Saturday, April 23rd due to complications from a long battle with Multiple Myeloma.  Tom was preceded in death by both his parents, Eugene Clarence Bell and Jewel Pauline Elgin Bell, his sister Norma Bell Hughes as well as his granddaughter, Lander Ann Miller.  He is survived by his wife, Fran Bell, his children Mark Bell, David Bell and Katy Bell Miller, his daughter in law Lisa Prewitt Bell and his son in law William C Miller Jr.  Known as their Pop Pop, he is also survived by his eight grandchildren Nichole Bell and her husband Patrick Hansen, Jonathan, Gabriel, Chrissy & Katy Bell and Lain, Maggie and Tommy Miller as well as two great grandchildren Matthue and Zacoria Hansen. And of course his beloved dog, Boomer.

Tom will be cremated and his ashes will be spread by his family in his favorite locations throughout the United States.  The Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Ocean Reef, the golf courses at Ocean Reef where he had holes in one, Clearlake outside of Wichita, Kansas and the Snake River in Jackson Hole Wyoming. A Memorial Brunch will be held on Saturday May 14th at 11:00 AM in the Sailfish Room of The Ocean Reef Club.

In lieu of flowers please consider a donation to the Miami Cancer Institute. Or rather, take some time to enjoy the outdoors with your family as Tom would have wanted to do and raise a glass in his honor.