FRUITA, COLORADO-Graveside services for Paul Albert Bell, 93, of Fruita, CO, are 10:00 a.m. Monday at Rosedale Cemetery, Dr. Roberto Escamilla and Rev. David Daniel will officiate. The Chickasaw Honor Guard will conduct military honors at the cemetery.
Mr. Bell died Thursday, November 21, 2013 in Fruita, CO. He was born December 7, 1919 in Blanchard, Oklahoma to Albert William Bell Jr. and Vivian Barefoot Bell. He and his family lived on the family farm in Newcastle, Oklahoma and he graduated from Newcastle High School. After high school, Paul enlisted in the U. S. Navy and served on the USS Quail during World War II. He was captured at Corregidor in the Philippines and later transferred to Japan where he was a Prisoner of War. He was interred for a total of 3 ½ years.
Returning to Oklahoma, he married Bettie Margaret Logsdon on July 28, 1946 at the First United Methodist Church in Ada. She preceded him in death on September 10, 2010. Both Paul and his wife were both lifelong educators, teaching in Arizona, New Mexico and Oklahoma. He received a Bachelor's and Master's Degree from Oklahoma State University and taught vocational agriculture on the High School and Vocational and Technical levels. His teams won many Arizona field days and also national championships.
Survivors include two daughters and their families, Theresa and George Loring of Aurora, CO, and Jeannie and Jim Fife of Grand Junction, CO; 7 grandchildren; 14 great grandchildren; and many nieces, nephews and cousins.
He was preceded in death by his parents and four siblings, Freeman (Chock) Bell, Richard (Dick) Bell, Carmen (Sister) Hartman and Jean Elizabeth Mireau.
The family says those who wish may make memorials to the Veterans of Foreign Wars, 406 W. 34th, Kansas City, MO 64111, 816-756-3390.
Obituaries may be viewed and online condolences sent to criswellfh.com.

Criswell Funeral Home, Ada