Lieutenant Colonel Richard E. Bell, age 79 of Oak Ridge, TN, died peacefully and went to be with the Lord on Friday, December 13, 2024. 

Richard was an active member of Central Baptist church and loved teaching adult Sunday School classes. He had a 26-year career in the Army and completed his bachelor’s degree at Campbell University during this time. After retiring from the military, he went on to work at Y-12 in Oak Ridge for 23 years.

 Among his many passions, tinkering with and driving his 1948 Ford F-1 truck around town was one of his favorites.

 Richard was preceded in death by parents Wallace and Elinor Bell, “mother” Mamie Bell Crismon, siblings Jeff Bell, Carrie Thomas, Alene Goodrich, and Allen Thomas. 

He is survived by his wife Yuncha, children Karen Covington, Petra Tyndall, and Paul Bell, siblings John Thomas and Renee Fox, seven grandchildren, and one great-grandchild.

The family would like to give special thanks to the doctors and nurses at UT Hospital, as well as the nurses of Covenant Hospice for their care of Richard. In lieu of flowers or a memorial gift, the family requests donations be made to the American Cancer Society for pancreatic cancer research in Richard’s memory. There will be a memorial service held at Central Baptist church on Friday, December 27, 2024 at 2:00PM.