Mr. Ralph "Butch" Bell Jr.

Ralph “Butch” Bell, Jr., 98, passed away peacefully, leaving behind a legacy of faith, kindness, and love for others. He was born on November 2, 1927, in Elizabeth, West Virginia, to Raymond Michael and Mary Valentine Bell, one of six children.

Butch proudly served his country as a veteran of the United States Army Air Corps (Air Force). A true person, he never met a stranger. Known for his warm hugs and friendly spirit, Butch had a way of stopping people in their tracks just to talk. He was a man of deep and abiding faith who loved to pray with others and seemed to know what was on their hearts.

On November 2, 1947, he married the love of his life, Isobel Lee Wigner, and together they shared many years of devotion. They were blessed with a son, a daughter, three grandchildren, and ten great-grandchildren. Isobel cared for their home and also served as a part-time minister at Oakland Presbyterian Church.

In his younger years, Butch worked in the coal mines and on the railroad. He later retired from Weirton Steel, where he spent many years working on the No. 9 Tandem Mill.

Butch found joy in the simple pleasures of life. He enjoyed mowing grass, listening to the Gaithers, polka music, and Johnny Cash, and fishing for huskies at Tomlinson Run and Cherry Lake. He loved going out to eat and taking rides with his daughter. A lifelong fan of Charlie Brown, his gentle humor and childlike joy brought smiles to those around him.

In addition to his parents, Butch was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Isobel Bell, on October 17, 2021; his son, Larry Bell; his son-in-law, Bill Fidler; his brothers, Charles and Robert Bell; and his sisters, Florence Whittington, Hilda Lavender, and Nellie Keenan.

He will be remembered with love and admiration by his daughter, Pam Fidler; his grandchildren, Derek (Amanda) Bell, Jodi (Rob) Cole, and Mike (Lindsey) Fidler; and his great-grandchildren, Josh, Rebekah, Chloe, Jennifer (Keegan), Kinsey, Abby, Wyatt Fidler, and Logan, Scarlet, and Owen Bell.

Visitation will be held on Thursday from 3:00–6:00 PM at the Greco-Hertnick Funeral Home, 3219 Main Street, Weirton, where services will be conducted at 6:00 PM with the Revs. Randall Krebbs and Larry Barkley presiding. He will be laid to rest next to his wife at Chapel Hill Memorial Gardens, Weirton.

He will be laid to rest next to his wife at Chapel Hill Memorial Gardens, with military honors conducted by the West Virginia National Guard and the American Legion Post 10.

Memorial Contributions may be made to Weirton Salvation Army, 794 Cove Road, Weirton, WV 26062, or Oakland Presbyterian Church, 30 Swearingen Road, Weirton, WV 26062.

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