Clyde Neese Bell Sr.

Clyde Neese Bell, Sr., 82, passed away peacefully at his home in Rising Sun, MD on August 3, 2012 under the loving care of his family.

Born in Wilmington, DE on January 20, 1930 he was the son of Joseph O. and Electa C. Dodson-Bell. He is survived by his loving wife of 62 years, Hildegard, his daughter Dorothy Byrne and her husband Dennis of Nottingham, PA, his sons, Clyde Bell Jr. of Middletown, DE, Richard Bell and his wife Tina of Rising Sun, MD, David Bell and his wife Tiffany of Nottingham, PA. He also leaves behind his brother Eugene Bell of New Castle, DE, and his grandchildren Rebecca Byrne-Yohe, Adam Byrne, Rich Bell, Sharon Byrne, Daniel Bell, Kaitlin Bell and David Bell. He was preceded in death by his brothers Joseph and George, and his sisters Margaret Hawke, Amy Jacobs, Gladys Hewes and Thelma Samluck.

He and Hilda were married on June 10, 1950 in Wilmington, DE. In his early years he was a hard worker who enjoyed making a living and raising his family. He was a dairy and crop farmer who loved agriculture and farmed the land where the Christiana Hospital and Mall now stand. He also worked as a pipe fitter who helped to build the Salem Nuclear Power plant, a semi-truck driver for George Transfer, a fabricator of lead containers at Nuclear Industries, and as a window fabricator for Slocum Industries.

In 1985, they purchased a beautiful farm in Port Deposit, MD where he taught his family and grandchildren how to farm ‘the old-fashioned way.’ They hosted many family reunions and music festivals there that will be cherished memories forever. He was a self taught musician who played the organ, banjo, accordion and guitar. He mastered the harmonica while mowing the highways with his horses as a teenager. He enjoyed playing bluegrass music at local festivals with his friends, and shared his music and songs with everyone who would lend him an ear. He was a natural storyteller and enjoyed sharing his jokes and stories with friends and family. He loved workhorses and shared his joy by providing horse-drawn wagon rides at the Cecil County Fairs and various other local events with his Belgian beauties, Nell and Maybelle.

In his later years he enjoyed spending time with his children, grandchildren and friends, and building memories with his gifts. He delighted in his grandchildren and was often heard saying ‘your children are great but when the grandchildren come along, now they are something special!’ His stories, songs, and laughter will be missed by his family and friends.

A service honoring Clyde’s life will be held at Grace Bible Chapel, 1949 Joseph Biggs Memorial Hwy, Rising Sun, MD 21911, on Tuesday August 7th 2012 at 11am. Friends and family may call at the church Monday August 6th from 6 – 8 pm or one hour prior to the service. Burial will be in Rosebank Cemetery.