Franklin Delano Bell

Franklin D. Bell, 78, of Milan, IL, passed away at his home Tuesday, July 28, 2015. Visitation will be Sunday, August 2nd, from 4:00 pm until 6:00 pm, at Wendt Funeral Home in Moline. Services will be 10:00 am on Monday, August 3rd, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, 2810 – 5th Avenue, Rock Island, IL. Burial will be at National Cemetery on Arsenal Island in Rock Island. Memorials may be made to Sacred Heart Church (Rock Island) or the Rock Island Evening Lions Club. Franklin Delano Bell was born in Savanna, IL, on January 3, 1937, to Henry J. and Estella E. (Farrell) Bell. He is a Veteran of the U.S. Army, having served at Fort Carson, CO, as part of a USAR Control Training Group. He graduated from Savanna High School, Savanna, IL, and St. Ambrose College in Davenport, IA. He was a Certified Life Underwriter for Metropolitan Life Company. He was a member of Rock Island’s Sacred Heart Church, a life-member of Rock Island Evening Lions Club, and a member and Past-President of Metropolitan Life Veterans Association. After retiring from Metropolitan, Franklin served twelve and a half years as Executive Director of Rock Island Clean and Beautiful. He was a member and Past-President of AACA/Mississippi Valley Antique Automobile Club of America, and a member of the NRA. Franklin married Constance Bower on September 30, 1972. In addition to his wife, he is survived by sons: Scott Bell & Franklin T. (MeOsha) Bell of Ft. Worth, TX; stepchildren: Tina Bower of New London, MO, Tami (Steve) Schmidt of Milan, IL, Tony Bower of Suffolk, VA, & Frank T. (Lisa) Bower of Aledo, IL; ten grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; a sister, Ruth French of Savanna, IL; a brother, Wilmer (Marge) Bell of Grand Rapids, MI; sister-in-law, Nancy Bell of Anaheim, CA; and many wonderful nieces and nephews. Franklin was preceded in death by his parents, four brothers: Charles Bedford, Robert, James, & Carl Bell, four sisters: Doris, Mary, Evelyn & Ferolee Bell, and in-laws: Ed French, Sally Bell, and Josie Bedford.

To send a flower arrangement to the family of

Franklin Delano Bell , please click here to visit our Sympathy Store .