By Bob Weaver 2021
Jim Bell of Grantsville has died at 93.
While Bell was named a "WV History Hero," he was much more, a longtime volunteer, giving time and labor to many causes, but will most likely be remembered for his dutiful collecting and labor at Calhoun Park's Heritage Village, thousands of hours to the Calhoun Historical Society project.
A retired "old" Hope Gas employee, he was a consummate woodworker, making and donating hundreds of his creations to Calhoun families.
Others will remember him for his fish fries, tasty horseradish pickles and molasses, which he brought to hundreds of reunions and gatherings.
In more recent years he was honored as the Parade Marshal at the Wood Festival.
In 1956 I first met him during a terrific flood in Grantsville. He was in a motorized boat helping people get across the flooded town or rescuing them from their homes.
I had just purchased a 8mm movie camera, funded by my job at The Grantsville News, and Jim welcomed me on board to film the flood. I still have footage.
He was a guy who always showed up.
We honor his life and his dedication to Calhoun County.
Click here  to see - In Memoriam of Mr. Jim Bell, on Calhoun County Historical Society's Facebook page.
DEDICATED VOLUNTEER JIM BELL RECOGNIZED FOR LONG-TIME HISTORIC PRESERVATION
EIGHTEEN YEARS AGO: HISTORICAL ONE-ROOM SCHOOL HAS OPEN HOUSE - Stevens School Reminder Of Early Education
MIKE FINK AND INDIAN TOMBSTONES ERECTED IN 2004 - Maybe They Will Now Be Long-Remembered
BLESSINGS ALONG THE WEST FORK - Cedar Grove Homecoming
LOVE'S LABOR NOT LOST - Jim And Juanita Bell Celebrate 60 Years Together
JIM BELL STILL VOLUNTEERING AT 87 - "Volunteers Are Really Dwindling"
OBITUARY
James Arthur Bell, 93, of Grantsville, WV, went to the Lord on November 7, 2021, at WV Caring Hospice, Elkins, WV.
He was born December 17, 1927, a son of the late Holly and Arldia Stump Bell.
Jim married Juanita Nichols in 1949. They shared 72 years of marriage together.
They had 3 sons, Holly Dennis Bell, James Arthur Bell II (Bambi), and Robert Alan Bell.
He worked for Consolidated Gas (Dominion) for 43 years retiring as a crew foreman. He was well-known for his stunning Christmas light displays, his fish fry events, and his contributions to the community. He always kept busy plowing snow, tilling gardens, making wooden bowls and homemade molasses. He was honored for the years of dedication and hard work he put into making the Heritage Village at Calhoun County Park a reality with lifelong friend, Ducky Stevens.
In addition to his wife and sons, he is survived by brothers George Bell (Mary) and Michael Bell and half-sister, Dorothy Fowler; six grandchildren, Christopher Bell, Vanessa Hinkle, Andy Bell, Jen Mounts (Stephen), Wesley Bell (Mackenzie), and Kelly Bell (Eugene); eight great-grandchildren, Samantha Cantu (Jayden), Cody Hinkle, Shakera Bell, Clayton Mounts, Hanley Mounts, Kyrian Mounts, Dakota Mounts, and Rowen Bell.
In addition to his parents, he is preceded in death by a grandson, Denny Bell; sister-in-law, Susan Bell; and brother-in-law, Glen Fowler.
A funeral service will be held on Friday, November 12, 2021, at 1:00 p.m., at Stump Funeral Home & Cremation, Inc., Grantsville, WV, with Rev. David Weaver officiating. Visitation will be held from 11:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m. Interment will be in Pleasant Hill United Methodist Church Cemetery, Grantsville, WV. Online condolences may be expressed at www.stumpfuneralhomes.com
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