William S. Bell

Bell, William S., Sr., of St. Charles, Missouri, died on Thursday, June 6, 2013 at the age of 89. Loving husband of Doris "Jean" J. Bell (NEE: Matthews); beloved son of the late William D. and Fannie V. Bell; devoted father of William S. Bell, Jr., Robert A. Bell, and Russell D. Bell; cherished grandfather of Shannon Giesman, Jeannie Boettler, William S. Bell III, and Babette Schlum; treasured great-grandfather of 8; dear brother of Geraldine Vie. He is preceded in death by his siblings Russell G. Bell, Hazel Mary Bell, Inez Riefenstahl, and Corrine Miester. He was a member of the VFW, American Legion and Masonic Lodge. William also received a Silver Star from the Army. The following is from his letter of commendation "Since landing on the fiercely contested Omaha Beach nearly a year ago V Corps has made for itself an enviable reputation. After the breakthrough, it was your corps that closed and cleaned out the Argentan-Falaise pocket with such disastrous effect on the enemy. It was V Corps that sped ahead to liberate Paris and moved on with out pausing to be the first to enter Germany. During the December counter-offensive your corps held like a stone wall at the Elsenborn corner. The courage and tenacity of your fighting men in that engagement marked a high point in the tradition of gallantry of our armed forces. Under your driving leadership V Corps raced across central Germany to capture Leipzig and pushed on to be the first of the western forces to meet the Russians at Torgau." In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to Shriner's Hospital or Baptist Children's Home.