Dale M. Bell's Obituary
With heavy hearts, we would like to share the passing of Dale Bell of Palm Coast, FL. He fought
for 13 days in the Advent Health Hospital in Palm Coast off Palm Coast Parkway to fight an
infection that finally took his life on June 25, 2024. At his side were his wife, Gerry and oldest
son, Jeffrey Sr. He was at the young age of 92 and just celebrated his 70 th Wedding
Anniversary with his wonderful wife, Gerry. He was born in Stanwood, MI on February 3, 1932,
and this is where he met and married his wife of over 75 years together.
After Dale graduated from Michigan State and his wife from Big Rapids High school, they wed
on June 12, 1954. While he was in college, he joined the ROTC and once graduated joined the
US Army. After basic training in Fort Benning, GA, their first post was Fort Richardson, AK,
which at this time was a territory of the United States. Their first born was Jeffrey in February
1956, next was Gregory at Fort Lewis, Washington in February 1957, and last was their
daughter Dala who arrived in March 1959 in Frankfurt, Germany. Dale served honorably for 31
years, and he was stationed in 21 different locations in the United States, Germany, Vietnam,
Korea, and Saudi Arabia. He loved Alaska and had three tours there and his final posting was
again at Fort Richardson, AK where he retired at the rank of Colonel in 1985. Once retired they
purchased a Winnebago and for the 6 th time drove the AlCan Highway to their retirement home
in Palm Coast, FL. Their first home was on Crompton Place, while their new home was being
built on Burgundy Place, where they both lived well and enjoyed playing golf as well as traveling
throughout the country in their Winnebago, visiting friends and relatives. They traveled the world
as well, on many tours seeing sites in China, Greece, Italy, France, Germany, Netherlands,
Japan, Sweden, Philippines, Australia, Poland, Malaysia, Czech Republic, New Zealand,
Thailand, Romania, Bulgaria, Great Britain and others.
He was preceded in death by his mother and father, Mabel and Glenn Bell and his older brother
nicknamed Sonny who only survived a short time due to a brain tumor.
He is survived by his loving wife of 70 years, Gerry; sister Helen (Gordon) Burden, brother
Dutch Bell; three children Jeffrey Sr (Donna) Bell, Gregory (Pina) Bell, Dala (Don) Cassedy;
nine grandchildren, Travers (April) Bell, Donny (Kari) Cassedy, Melissa Estremera, Dale
(Victoria) Cassedy, Keegan (Brenna) Bell, Jeffrey Jr (Jennifer) Bell, Steven Bell, Chad Bell and
Alexis Bell; Twelve great grandchildren, Nate, Alex, Joey, Olive, Emma, Mikayla, Harlow, Holly,
Evelyn, Daisy, Parker and Harley. He also has many cousins, nieces and nephews in MI, CO,
GA, TX, and western FL.
In lieu of flowers, donations in honor of Dale to either Wounded Warrior Project or St. Judes Childrens Hospital.
A Celebration of Life will be held at Pine Lakes Country Club, on July 13, 2024 from 1-3PM
Dale’s ashes will be laid to rest with a full honors funeral at Arlington National Cemetery near our
nation’s capital.
What’s your fondest memory of Dale?
What’s a lesson you learned from Dale?
Share a story where Dale's kindness touched your heart.
Describe a day with Dale you’ll never forget.
How did Dale make you smile?
