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Franklin S. Bell Obituary

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Franklin S. Bell

Fairfield, Iowa

June 6, 1940 - November 25, 2020

Franklin S. Bell Obituary

Frank S. Bell died of COVID-19 in Sunnybrook Living Care Center Wednesday, November 25, 2020 in Fairfield at the age of 80. Cremation has taken place. A visitation will be held from 1:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. on Wednesday, December 2, 2020 at the Cranston Family Funeral Home in Fairfield, IA. The family will not be present during this time. Masks and social distancing will be required. A service will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in Frank's honor may be directed to the Alzheimer's Association or to the Shop with a Hero Program in Fairfield. Friends may leave online condolences at www.cranstonfamilyfuneralhome.com. Frank was born on June 6, 1940 in Fairfield, Iowa to Frank and Geneva (Davison) Bell. He married Nancy Cornick in 1963. Frank graduated from Lockridge High School in 1958, he was always quick to remind you that this was the last graduating class of Lockridge High, and as he had predicted, they would not be able to run it without him. After graduating high school, Frank started The Bell Press, a small hand-set type commercial printing business. Frank joined the Army in 1959. After returning from the Army, he was employed by the McCleary-Cummings Calendar Factory in Washington, IA. Frank spent a short time as a real estate agent in Washington before entering the Iowa Highway Patrol academy in 1968. He served as a State Trooper in Centerville, IA until 1973 when he accepted a transfer to the position of Special Agent with the Division of Vice Enforcement in Davenport. In 1977, Frank purchased the local Honda motorcycle dealership and brought the family back home to Fairfield. He sold Bell’s Honda in 1986 and returned to his love of law enforcement with the Jefferson County Sheriff’s office. He was elected Sheriff in 1992 and again in 1996, retiring after his second term in December of 2000. In retirement, Frank and Nancy did some traveling and wintering in south Texas before living full time in Mission, TX for several years. In 2016 they once again returned home to Fairfield. Frank was an avid do-it-yourselfer and also known for his quick wit. Frank will be missed by his wife Nancy; children, Jean Francy of Mt. Pleasant, Mark Bell (Marci Dunlap) of Fairfield, William Bell of Chapin, SC; siblings, Keith Bell Tallahassee, FL, Raymond Bell, Canyonville, OR, Rodger Bell Roseburg, OR, Tom Bell Palmyra, MO, Terry Bell Palmyra, MO, six grandchildren and one great grandchild. He is preceded in death by his parents, Frank and Geneva Bell, sisters Lois Sasseen and Shirley Luzadder, and brother, Glen Bell. The family would like to thank the hard-working nurses and CNA's at Sunnybrook Living Care Center for their efforts and compassionate service. Special gratitude goes to Sara and Cindy.

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Event information can be found on the Official Obituary of Franklin S. Bell.