James (Jim) Ernest Bell passed away at the age of 80 years old in the evening of November 6, 2023, after a short illness.

James was born in Cincinnati, OH to Charles and Carlene Bell on May 1, 1943, in Ohio. He was the oldest of two children. Jim went to Coshocton High School in Coshocton, Ohio, and received his Bachelors of Science in Applied Mathematics from Cleveland State University. Jim enlisted in the U.S. Air Force, where he was stationed in Biloxi, Mississippi and subsequently Elmendorf, Alaska, where he was a radar instructor.

Jim was married to the love of his life, Mildred "Millie" Norris on June 24, 1967. Jim and Millie went on to have 4 children, Gregory James Bell, Christin Sue Thompson, Erin Rachel Martin (Shane Martin) and Kevin Paul Bell (Nicole Bell). He has 9 grandchildren:

Carley Thompson, Ryan Thompson, Camryn Thompson, Chelsey Thompson, Natalia Martin, Mikayla Martin, Charlotte Bell, Michael Bell and Olivia Bell. He has 5 great grandchildren: Jaden Thompson, Jonen Thompson, Deven Bedford, Giovanni Thompson, Caelyn Blair and 1 more on the way.

He worked for 40 years as a battery systems engineer for Electric Storage Battery, Hughes Aircraft and Boeing Space Systems. Jim retired in 2008. Jim and Millie attended church at St. Rose of Lima in Simi Valley.

Jim was active in his children's sports, boating, playing with his grandchildren and great grandchildren, loved to go around the lake with his wife on their pontoon boat and walk around Solvang.

He was always joking and smiling.