Obituaries

Juanita E. Bell

Juanita E. Bell, 89, was reunited with her beloved husband, Floyd P. Bell, when she left this earth April 22, 2012. Born April 10, 1923, in Pea Ridge, she was the daughter of Galen O. and Pearl Neff Gilbert. She was preceded in death by her husband, Floyd; brother, Wilbur (Gil) Gilbert; and her parents. A lifelong caregiver, Juanita trained as a registered nurse at St. Luke's Hospital in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Returning to Arkansas, she began her career at Fayetteville City Hospital. During that time, she met and married Floyd. After leaving City Hospital, Juanita continued her career in the Washington Regional Medical Center's obstetrics department. Juanita worked many years for Dr. Joe B. Hall, who remained a lifelong friend. Later, as the first nurse for the Fayetteville Public Schools, she helped develop a dental program for students. Well before United Way became the umbrella community organization, she recruited doctors, dentists and optometrists to serve underprivileged children in Northwest Arkansas. She also organized an army of volunteers to ensure Washington County residents were immunized against polio. Many of her efforts continue today. She was working at University of Arkansas Health Services when vision problems forced her to retire. Juanita will be remembered as a wonderful daughter, sister, wife, mother, mother-in-law, nurse and friend. Throughout her life, she never lost her passion for helping others. She loved traveling, doing so whenever she could, often with her sister, Wilma, and Wilma's husband, Pete. She was a longtime member of Wiggins United Methodist Church in Fayetteville. Juanita is survived by sons, Michael E. Bell and wife, Susan, of Fayetteville, and retired Capt. Larry J. Bell and wife, Gloria, of San Antonio; granddaughters, Kerrie (Jonathon) Nelson of San Antonio and Lori (Damien) Lowe of Cabot; four great-grandchildren; brothers, Galen Gilbert (Elnora) of Siloam Springs, James M. Gilbert (Mercedes) of Laguna Woods, Calif., and Gerald Gilbert of Longview, Texas; and sisters, Roberta LaCoste of Seattle, Wilma (O.C Pete) Peterson of Forks, Wash., and Doris (Eldon) Officer of Port Angeles, Wash. The family is most appreciative of the care and personal attention Juanita received from the Nursing Home Care Staff (North Wing) at Fayetteville City Hospital and Washington Regional staff. The family will receive friends Tuesday from 5 to 7 p.m. at the funeral home. Funeral service will be held 2 p.m. Wednesday, April 25, 2012, at Beard's Funeral Chapel, with the Rev. Gary Lunsford officiating. Burial will be at Dowell Cemetery. The family requests that memorials be made to Wiggins Memorial Methodist Church, 205 W. Martin Luther King Blvd., Fayetteville, AR 72701; Fayetteville City Hospital, 221 S. School Ave., Fayetteville, AR 72701; or Washington Regional Hospice, P.O Box 356, Fayetteville, AR 72702. Online condolences may be made to the family at www.beardsfuneralchapel.com.

Published April 24, 2012

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