Armenta Ruth Lee Bell
Armenta Ruth Lee Bell, formerly of Many, LA, was born February 6, 1932 in Brownfield, Texas to the late Benjamin Franklin Lee and Maggie Aileen Hammett Lee. She went home to be with Jesus Christ on Monday, February 13, 2023 at Taylor Regional Hospital in Campbellsville, KY having attained the age of ninety-one years and seven days. She had made a profession of faith in Christ at a young age and was a member of the Church of the Nazarene in Campbellsville, KY.
She was a dedicated, loving and supportive pastors’ wife, mother, grandmother and great grandmother for over seventy-three years. She set a strong Godly Christian example for everyone who met or knew her.
Sister Ruth and her husband Rev. Lowell Bell pastored twelve Nazarene churches in six states: Alabama, Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Kentucky and Louisiana. They also served on many work and witness mission trips in the United States and Mexico, Dominican Republic and other countries serving God and those in need. Sister Ruth served in many capacities within the church. On February 6, 2022 she was awarded the Distinguished Service Award from the Church of the Nazarene. She served as the Louisiana State Commander for DAVA co-siding with her husband’s Louisiana State Chaplin duties. She also served on the Sabine Parish Hospital Auxiliary in Many, Louisiana in the 1980’s.
Ruth Lee and Lowell Bell were joined in marriage on November 22, 1950. Ruth graduated from Brownfield High School in Brownfield, Texas in 1949. After high school she attended Bethany Nazarene College (now Bethany Nazarene University) in Bethany, Oklahoma where she studied music, home economics and church ministry in the 1950’s. She graduated from Tailoring school in Jonesboro, Arkansas in the 1960’s. Sister Bell held numerous positions: She was the accountant, billing and inventory manager over three large Dry Goods, Farm Equipment and Clothing stores owned by the same owner. Ruth taught organ and piano for over fifty-five years teaching children, teens and adults. She taught many pastor wives to play, for free, to help assist their husbands in their pastorates.
Following her marriage to her husband Rev. Lowell Bell they moved to Craig Air Force Base, Selma, Alabama where she worked at the “Ma Bell Telephone Co” while Lowell served his four years in the Air Force. They pastored a small church fifty miles away from the base as well as she becoming a new mother. Sister Ruth had a love for teaching. She established “Mrs. Bell’s Reading Readiness School” in her home teaching pre-school and kindergartners reading, writing and math for ten years. Her school would accommodate fifteen students.
She was recognized for her teaching ability as school principals would refer students in danger of failing for private tutoring in reading and math. Sister Ruth was acknowledged as being highly knowledgeable in the area of dyslexia and helped numerous students to learn with this learning challenge.
Up until Mrs. Bell’s death she was speaking affirmation over people, witnessing to all she met, encouraging them to attend church and live a Godly life. Most of all she let Gods’ light shine through her on others. She loved them all and would give all for God and to others. It was a priority to love and pray for her children and spouses, grandchildren and spouses, great grandchildren and all her extended family every day for God’s protection and blessings on their lives.
Besides Sister Ruth’s parents, she was proceeded in death by her husband Rev. Lowell Bell on November 7, 2007; daughter Rebecca Sue Bell Dziekan on December 20, 2008 and son-in-law Larry D. Cox, MD.; brothers; Jay Lee Shelburne, William Andrew Lee; sister: Clara Velma Storks; brothers-in-law; Walton Edwin Buchanan, James Doyle Sams, Wilburn Bell, Leon Bell; sisters-in-law; Ruby Bell, Gladys Bell.
She is survived by one daughter: Amaryllis Bell Lobb and husband Mike Lobb of Mount Sherman, KY; one son-in-law: Dennis Dziekan of Many, Louisiana. One sister: Benney Frances Sams of Plainview, TX; four grandchildren: Stephen M. Lobb and wife Jamie of Summersville, KY. , Dwayne Lobb and wife Amanda of Danville, KY., Timothy Dziekan of Winnsboro, Louisiana and Donna Dziekan of Many, Louisiana; six great grandchildren: Zachary Lobb, Xander Lobb, Violet Lobb all of Summersville, KY., and Madison Lobb, Parker Lobb, Joy Lobb of Danville, KY., plus a host of other relatives and friends.
Funeral services for Armenta Ruth Lee Bell will be conducted at 2:00 P.M. Central Time, Saturday, February 25, 2023, at the Many Church of the Nazarene in Many, Louisiana. Interment will follow in the Prospect Cemetery in Florien, Louisiana. Visitation will be Saturday, February 25, 2023, 12 noon Central Time until the funeral hour at the church. Minister: Rev. Daniel Lowe.
Pallbearers: Stephen Lobb, Zachary Lobb, Timothy Dziekan, Dennis Dziekan, Jerome Dziekan, Jason Dziekan, Xander Lobb Honorary Pallbearers: Winona Sepalvado, Anita Elhage.
The family of Armenta Ruth Lee Bell Would like to thank all the Nazarene churches for the kindness you have shown to Sister Ruth Bell, also a special thanks to all the staff and friends at Bluegrass Way Assisted Living Apartments and The Grandview Rehabilitation Facility for their care of Sister Ruth Bell.
