Robert Lynn "Bobby" Bell

Wednesday, August 6, 2008

Robert Lynn "Bobby" Bell, 47, of Manila died early Wednesday, July 30, 2008, at his home. Born at Jonesboro, he had been a Manila resident most of his life. He was a 1979 graduate of Manila High School and had attended Arkansas State University pursuing a masters degree in communications. He was a U.S. Navy veteran of the Persian Gulf War having been stationed on the USS Bunker Hill. He received awards as a Navy rifle and pistol sharpshooter and earned two good conduct medals. While in the Navy he was certified as a high voltage electrician and afterwards he worked for Nucor-Yamato Steel near Blytheville as a master electrician. He enjoyed spending time with family and friends and riding motorcycles.

He was preceded in death by his paternal grandparents, Robert and Gladys Bell, his maternal grandparents, Sam and Lera Bollinger, and his father and mother-in-law, Gerald and Diane Zahm.

Survivors include his wife, Paula Zahm Bell, of the home; two sons, Christopher Lin Bell of Pascagoula, Miss., and Nathan Samuel Bell of the home; a daughter, Hailey Mae Bell, of the home; his parents, Robert Bruce Bell of Monette and Patricia Ann Bollinger Jolliff of Manila.

The funeral was held at 1 p.m. Saturday at the Howard Funeral Chapel in Manila with Rev. Jerry Pentecost officiating. Burial was in the Manila Cemetery with the U.S. Navy Funeral Team providing military honors.

Serving as active pallbearers were Terry Ford, Ed Bishop, Gordon May, Ken Westmoreland, Darrell Eden and Brandon Bollinger. Serving as honorary pallbearers were Artie Bollinger, Coy Mac Boyd, Logan Wallace, Tim Cater, Cody Griggs, Beau Robert Griggs, Clifford Browning and Bobby Tucker.

To sign the online guest register log on to www.howardfuneralservice.com.