Roy E. Bell, Jr.'s Obituary
Roy E. Bell, Jr., Memphis businessman, died on January 21st, 2018 at age 90. A native Memphian, he attended Snowden School and graduated from Central High School. He graduated from the University of Tennessee- Knoxville, and received his Masters in Business Administration from Cornell in Ithaca, NY. He was a member of the Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity at both schools. After finishing at Cornell, he worked for US Steel Corporation in Pittsburgh, PA. During the Korean War, he was a member of the US Navy Supply Corps. He was stationed in Philadelphia, PA where he met his lifelong love, Jan Schaumann.In June 1955, he returned to Memphis and joined his father in the two family owned manufacturing operations: Ace Pump Corporation and Bell-Memphis, Incorporated. Ace Pump manufactures centrifugal pumps primarily used in the application of agricultural chemicals. Bell-Memphis manufactures aircraft hardware used in aircraft control systems. Roy Jr. was known for his attention to the smallest details, his ever-present list of tasks, his one-on-one management style, and for putting the employees and customers first. He truly loved his work and continued working up until weeks before his death.In addition to his business interests, Roy was active in a number of community and civic activities. He was a lifetime supporter of the Boy Scouts of America. He was an Eagle Scout and received the Silver Beaver award from the Chickasaw Council. He served as chairman on the following boards: Boys and Girls Clubs of Greater Memphis, Phoenix Club, Memphis University School, St. Mary’s Episcopal School. Other boards on which he participated were: The Church of the Holy Communion (Vestry), Trezevant Episcopal Home, West Tennessee Episcopal Diocese Endowment Committee, Community Foundation of Greater Memphis, and President’s Island Industrial Association. Roy was an avid tennis and squash player. He and Jan traveled the world on several People-To-People tennis ambassador trips and played in over 20 different countries. He was a member of the Memphis Country Club and the Hunt and Polo Club of Memphis.He is survived by his loving wife of 63 years, Janice Schauman Bell; three children, Kathy Adams (Ben), Roy Bell, III (Lou Henslee), and Margot Roberts (John), his sister Beverly Sloane of Lacy, Washington, eight grandchild; Ben Adams (Lea), Scott Adams (Ashley), Conlee Stringfellow (Alex), Owen Bell, Amy Bell, Carson Paschal (Mark), Caroline Roberts (fiance David Pharr), Johnny Roberts and four great-grandchildren; Elsie Adams, B Adams, Annie Stringfellow, and Kyser Adams.The funeral services will be held on Friday, January 26th at The Church of Holy Communion (4645 Walnut Grove Road) at 1:00 p.m. with a reception and visitation following in the Cheney Parish Hall at the church. The family requests that any memorials be sent to The Church of the Holy Communion, Chickasaw Council – Boy Scouts of America, or Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Memphis. Roy was a true gentleman and the kindest and tenderest of souls. He will be deeply missed.
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