Areta "Rita" Bell

Areta (Rita) Nell Bell, 89, of West Columbia, Texas passed away on Saturday, November 27, 2021, surrounded by her loving family.

Rita was born August 31, 1932, in Danbury, Texas to Perry Benson and Nellie (Francis) Wollam. Rita attended Danbury High School. She then went on to graduate Business School in Houston, Texas. She married her husband, Thomas Gerald Bell on April 14, 1951. She lived in West Columbia since 1952. She retired from Bob Barta lumberyard after 22 years where she worked as a bookkeeper.

She was a member of Columbia United Methodist Church, where she was a member of the United Methodist Women and served as president among other positions. She was a member West Columbia Fire Department Aux serving in multiple officer positions and loved running pumper races. She belonged to the Women’s Bowling Association for many years where she received multiple awards for high games and high series and went to many state and national tournaments.  She received the Volunteer of the year award in 2007 and Lifetime achievement award in 2016 from the West Columbia Sr. Center where she volunteered from 1999 until 2019. Rita enjoyed being with her family, reading, fishing, and volunteering her time to her community.

Rita is preceded in death by her parents, her husband, Thomas Gerald Bell, siblings, Skinny Wollam (Mae), Emma Lee Keeland (Jimmy), Ed Wollam (Ginny), Pauline Bell (Elmo), Max Wollam (Betty), Benny Wollam (Nelva Dean) Brother-in-Law Donald Spoor, and Daughter-in-law, Edith Bell.

Rita is survived by her children, Rita Jane Thompson (Bill) of Cedar Park, Texas, Glenda Williams of Katy, and Thomas Glen Bell (Kay) of Brazoria, Sister, Claudine Spoor of Angleton.  Grandchildren Chad Anderson (Jill), Aron Anderson (Rendy), Christin Smith (Chris), Garret Bell (Danyel), Tyson Bell (Cristina), Eddie Kelley (Kimberly), Cindy Kelley, Daphne Richard, Joseph Williams (Abbie) and many great grandchildren and nieces and nephews

Memorials can be made to West Columbia Sr Center or Columbia UMC, West Columbia, TX.

Pall bearers, Grandsons, Chad Anderson, Aron Anderson, Garret Bell, Tyson Bell and great-grandsons, Seth Garcia and Jacob Garcia.

The family will welcome friends and loved ones from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday, December 07, 2021, in the Chapel of C.T. Baker & Sons Funeral Home, in West Columbia.

Funeral service will be Wednesday December 08, 2021, at 11:00 a.m. at The First Methodist Church in West Columbia.