SOUTH PARIS – James “Red” H. Bell Jr., 67, died peacefully Sunday, Jan. 6, 2008, with his family by his side at Stephens Memorial Hospital. Red was born in Augusta, the son of James H. Bell Sr. and Ada Campbell Bell. He was educated in Augusta and a graduate of Cony High School in 1959. He went on to graduate from the University of Maine, Orono, majoring in engineering. While serving in the U.S. Navy, he was stationed aboard the USS Sea Robin off the coast of Cuba during the Cuban missile crisis and was honorably discharged after four years. In 1964, he started work as a laborer for Bridge Construction Corp., currently known as BRIDGECORP, a division of Pike Industries and was president at the time of his death. As an avid stock car racing fan, he was co-owner of B&B Racing with his good friend, Dick Bahre. Together they entered a car in several races at Daytona International Speedway, including the Daytona 500. They also sold tires at Oxford Plains Speedway for many years, until Dick moved south and Red continued on with the help of a top-notch crew. Red belonged to several civic organizations, including Grand Royal Arch Masons No. 43, Bethlehem Masonic Lodge No. 35, Augusta and Kora Temple Shrine, Lewiston, as well as business organizations, MBTA, ABC and AGC. He was a member of and served in several capacities at Christ Episcopal Church, Norway. He is survived by his wife, Nancy; and children, Russell Clement Jr. of Skowhegan, Sandra Clement Burton, also of Skowhegan, Reginald and his wife, Kathryn Clement, of Anson and Ronald and his wife, Barbie-Jo Clement, of Monmouth; by grandchildren, Molly, Cody, Jesse, Mason, Casey, Mackenzie and Libby; sister, Ann and Lionel “Nellie” Delaware and their children, Lionel Jr., Kelly and Penny, of Lemoore, Calif. Funeral services will be held 1 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 10, at Weston-Chandler Funeral Home, 45 Main St., South Paris, with interment in the spring at Mount Hope Cemetery, Augusta. Family and friends may call 6-8 p.m. Wed-nesday at the funeral home. Donations may be sent to Harold Alfond Center for Cancer Cure, 361 Old Belgrade Road, Augusta, ME 04330 or Christ Episcopal Church, 16 Green St., Norway, ME 04268. Online condolences may be shared with his family at www.westonchandler.com.
JAMES ‘RED’ BELL JR.
