Richard Dewayne (Dick) Bell, 74 of Vernon, Texas passed away on Thursday, March 9, 2023, in Ardmore, Oklahoma, after a hard-fought battle with Alzheimer's

A visitation will be held Tuesday March 14, 2023 from 6:00-8:00pm at Sullivan Funeral Home

Dick was born Friday, April 16, 1948 in Vernon, Texas, he was the son of the late Thomas F.  Bell and the late Robbie Jean Bell.  Being a military brat, the family lived in numerous places including Okinawa. He graduated from Burns Flat High School, at the Clinton Sherman AFB. Dick maintained his contact with many friends he had made there. He married Pamela Barnes on October 27, 1979 in Vernon, TX. Dick served in the US Army during the Vietnam War in Italy at a nuclear site, he also attended officer candidate school where he was honored as a 2 ^nd Lieutenant.

Dick attended Vernon College, Midwestern State College, East Texas State University and Texas Tech, earning a Bachelor and Masters Degrees and his Texas Teacher Certificate.  Dick held many positions in Vernon throughout his career including North Texas State Hospital, in the Adolescent Drug Unit, Boys and Girls Club of Vernon, Vernon College as the student activities director, Vernon High School teacher and Tennis Coach to the State Champions of 1989, He also served as Assistant Principal at Vernon Middle School, Principal of Shive Elementary, the Vernon High School Golf Coach, and the Texas Youth Commission.

Dick loved GOD, his country, family, friends, working with the youth, motorcycles, tennis, golf, and sports in general and music. Dick was a member of the Patriot Guard Riders, Christian Motorcycle Association. Dick and his family were also members of the Calvary Baptist Church.

Dick is survived by his wife Pam, his children and their spouses Donald and Spring, Scott and Dawn, Sean and Jennifer and Mandy and Don. He also leaves behind two brothers Tim and Chris and one sister Lori. He was Poppy to eighteen grandchildren and several great grandchildren and several nieces and nephews.

Dick is preceded in death by his parents Thomas and Robbie Bell and one granddaughter Lacey Nikayle.

The family request that memorials be made to the Alzheimer's Associations, Boys and Girls Club or to the Wilbarger Humane Society.

A party will be held at a later date to celebrate Dick's Life.