RONALD BELL
Bell, Ronald Lewis, died Monday, March 3, at Henry Ford West Bloomfield Hospital in West Bloomfield, Michigan, following complications from pneumonia and influenza.
His final fight was precisely what his entire life remains to his family and friends: an inspiration.
Dr. Bell was born March 29, 1935, in Steubenville. He is one of three children, two sons, of the late George W. and Thelma (Lewis) Bell.
Ron was a 1953 graduate of Steubenville High School. He met his life-long love at Big Red. He and Martha Ferrell had lockers across the hall as SHS freshmen. They dated, and after graduation they married. To his death, Ron was inseparable from Martha Bell, through their incredible, inspirational 70 years of marriage.
Ron attended Washington and Jefferson College. He then graduated in 1959 from Palmer College of Chiropractic in Davenport, Iowa, with Doctor of Chiropractic and Mechanotherapy degrees.
He returned home and served the Ohio Valley’s workers and residents as a chiropractic physician with his practice on Main Street in Wintersville. For 40 years he was dedicated to serving the Valley. Each weekday he took appointments in the morning, afternoon and evening to cover our area’s steel-mill workers as they got off every shift.
Ron was even more dedicated to his family. He and Martha set the example for loving and selflessness raising four children in Steubenville: Ronald Jr., Lisa, Gregg and Gwendolyn. Ron and Martha were vital in also raising four grandchildren through high school graduation from Big Red.
Ron’s favorite hours were on his sailboat. He spent springs through falls on Lake Erie and then at Atwood Lake, with his family always aboard.
For all of his 90 years, he was about family.
Ron is survived by his wife Martha, now of Farmington Hills, Mich.; his oldest child Ron with his wife Laura Ellen of Huntington Beach, Calif.; and his twin children Gregg with his wife Wendy of Seattle and Gwenn with her husband Sam of Beverly Hills, Mich.
Ron is also survived by 10 grandchildren: Zac of Huntington Beach, Calif., Sean of Mission Viejo, Calif., John of Steubenville, Matthew Ronald of Ahwatukee, Ariz., Luke of Steubenville, Mark of Steubenville, Sarah of New London, Conn., Eric of Pullman, Wash., Joshua of Ann Arbor, Mich., and Ben of Brighton, Mich.
Ron’s love for and dedication to his family are his legacy.
A private burial was held at Union Cemetery at Ron’s resting place with other Bell family members in Steubenville Saturday, March 15. Dr. Nate Freeman of First Christian Church presided.
Offer condolences at mostifuneralhome .com.