Clyde Hamilton Bell Sr.'s Obituary
Clyde Hamilton Bell, Sr., age 100, of Hawthorne, passed away after a short illness on Wednesday, May 31, 2017 at Haven Hospice in Gainesville, Florida. He was a beloved brother, husband, father, grandfather, and great grandfather and inspired many with his exemplary life. Mr. Bell was born April 11, 1917 in Mt. Sterling, North Carolina to James H. and Nancy Presnell Bell.
After graduating from Cocke County High School in Newport, TN, he served in the Civilian Conservation Corps as assistant to the architectural foreman and photographer during the opening of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. He later joined the United States Army and was stationed at Ft. Bragg, NC. His field artillery unit was sent to open Camp Blanding in preparation for WWII. While stationed there he met and married Elsie Beckham. He was known as quite a matchmaker because he introduced several other couples who also married.
He and Elsie celebrated their 76th wedding anniversary on March 8, 2017. In April, he celebrated his 100th birthday with a large celebration at his granddaughter’s home.
During his outstanding military career, he served in seven campaigns during WWII, having served in North Africa, Italy, France and Germany. The campaigns included Anzio Beachhead, The Battle of the Bulge and Alsace-Lorraine. He was a liberator at Dachau Concentration Camp and was the personnel officer who wrote a report on the horrible conditions there. Mr. Bell was among very few who received a Battlefield Commission during WWII and was also awarded the Bronze Star.
Prior to his deployment, Clyde and Elsie had a son, Clyde Hamilton Bell, Jr., who was 10 months old when he left and 4 years old when he returned. Upon his return, he spent time with his family and served at Ft. McClelland, GA and Ft. Rucker, AL. During this time, he and Elsie had two daughters, Shirley Ann and Carolyn Faye. Prior to leaving for an assignment in Korea, he built a home in Hawthorne for his family so they could be close to Elsie’s family in his absence. After returning from Korea he was stationed in St. Augustine, FL at the National Guard Armory as Personnel Officer. He was then sent to the Presidio in Monterey, CA to study Portuguese in preparation for an assignment with the Joint Brazil–United States Military Commission. His family accompanied him on this mission and this assignment was one of the highlights of their lives as they traveled on a luxury cruise ship, the SS Brazil. Upon return, he was stationed at Ft. Benning, GA and served as personnel officer at the infantry training school. Upon learning that he was going to be sent on an international assignment again, his family urged him to retire and he did so in 1962.
The Bells returned to Hawthorne, purchased a tractor and had their own “Green Acres”. A group of men in Hawthorne asked him if he would consider being City Manager, and Mr. Bell served for 11 years procuring many grants for the City. After teaching his children and others, he learned to water ski at the age of 65.
During this time, Clyde’s son married Jane Middleton of Hawthorne, and they had 4 children, Jerry, Eric, Donna and Brett. Clyde Bell, Jr. “Pete” had a military career following in his father’s footsteps. He retired as a full Colonel after serving 26 years. His daughter Shirley Stephenfield-Wynne became an English/Humanities teacher and taught for 30 years at Forest High School in Ocala. She has one daughter, Tamara “Tammy”. Shirley is married to William Wynne. His daughter Carolyn married Charles Austin and they have two children, Angela and Chad. She retired from teaching at Keystone Heights Elementary after 32 years. Mr. Bell also has 13 great grandchildren, Nicole, Jake, Brock, Brody, Stephanie, Sophie, Sydney, Sarah, Austin, Ashley, Connor, Ethan and Emily. He was the last of ten brothers and sisters.
During his retirement years Clyde and Elsie built a tree house in the back of their property in Hawthorne and put in a fish pond. One of the greatest achievements of his later years was acquiring part of his family’s property in Cosby, Tennessee. He and Elsie restored the cabin right on the creek and built a fish pond at the base of Bell Mountain. This has been a tremendous legacy to his family.
Clyde was an inspiration to many and was beloved by his family. His Christian life was an example to all who knew him. He exemplified love, compassion, selflessness, humility, dignity and patriotism.
“Old soldiers never die; they just fade away.”
A Celebration of Mr. Bell’s life will be held Tuesday, June 6, 2017 at 11:00 a.m., in the chapel of WILLIAMS-THOMAS FUNERAL HOME HAWTHORNE, US 301 South at Lake Avenue, with Mike Hill officiating. Interment will follow in Providence Cemetery in Windsor with full military honors. The family will receive friends Monday, June 5, 2017, 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. at the funeral home.
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