Herbert E. Bell, 84, a 38-year resident of Coupeville, went to be at rest with his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on Aug. 14, 2007, after a short illness.
Herb was born Dec. 16, 1922, in Fredericksburg, Va., to William H. Bell and Annie Alderman Bell. He grew up there along with older siblings Elizabeth and William. He joined the Navy in 1942 during World War II and served until late 1947, ending his service as a chief carpenter’s mate.
His Navy service took him all over the world from Brazil to China and points in between. He served on the USS Raymond (DE-341) fighting the Battle of Samar/Battle of Leyte Gulf in the Philippines on Oct. 25, 1944, the largest naval battle in modern history. He was awarded the Presidential Unit Citation for service in that battle and was also awarded two Asiatic-Pacific Bronze Stars, Philippine Liberation Ribbon Bronze Star, American Theatre and World War II Victory Medal during his Navy service.
His last duty station was Kodiak Naval Operating Base where he met the love of his life, Georgia Ellenbrand, a civil service worker who had come several years before with two girlfriends from Indiana to work. They married on Nov. 9, 1947, a few days before he was discharged from the Navy. Herb and Georgia had two children, Pamela in 1948 and Dennis in 1951. They remained in Kodiak for most of the next 20 years living an adventurous life with Herb fishing, crabbing and hunting while off-duty from his federal civil service job and private carpentry and contracting work. They had stints away from Kodiak, living in Oxnard, Calif., and Colorado Springs, Colo., where Herb did private-sector carpentry and contractor work. In 1968, they moved to Coupeville and Herb resumed his civil service career at NAS Whidbey Island Public Works until his retirement in 1984 as the housing maintenance department carpenter foreman.
Retirement gave Herb more time to pursue his passion in life, saltwater fishing. He kept detailed records of his fishing trips. One year the cumulative total that he (and others he occasionally took with him in his boat) caught was 353 fish weighing 2,485 pounds, making it “a great year.” Some knew him only by his boat’s name/CB handle, “Night Bite.” Herb was a member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Coupeville and was well known for cooking his salmon to provide at funeral receptions at the church.
Herb was predeceased by his loving wife Georgia just two months ago and was also predeceased by his parents, sister and brother. Herb is survived by daughter Pamela Jamieson (husband David) of Oak Harbor, son Dennis Bell (wife Sharon) of Belfair, grandchildren Shawn Rockwell (wife Melody) of Stanwood, Sheldon Rockwell (wife Tina) of Oak Harbor, Heather Fredrickson (husband Curtis) of Bremerton, Mark Bell (wife Robin) of Shoreline, Adam Nekuda (wife Vanessa) of Camano Island, and seven great-grandchildren, Joshua, Caleb, Hannah and Rebekah Fredrickson, Maria and Kyle Rockwell, and Kyla Nekuda.
A memorial mass celebrating Herb’s life will be held at St. Mary’s Church in Coupeville on Saturday, Aug. 25, at 11:30 a.m., followed by a lunch reception at the church. The service will be officiated by Rev. John Malo, CSB, a longtime family friend, of Toronto, Canada. Private family inurnment will follow at Maple Leaf Cemetery, Oak Harbor. Funeral arrangements are entrusted to Burley Funeral Chapel, Oak Harbor.
