Through his love and infinite wisdom, God allowed Norman Ernest Bell to peacefully slip away to take his eternal rest on the afternoon of March 3, 2018, at the Veterans Administration Medical Center, in Hampton, Virginia, after a long illness.

Born November 28, 1942, in Norfolk County (Chesapeake, Virginia), to the late John Bell and Lucille Williams-Bell, Norman was the only child.

Norman received his primary and secondary education in the Chesapeake Public School System. He graduated in the class of 1961 from Carver High School. After graduation, he continued his education at Norfolk State University receiving a B.S. degree in Business Education. Shortly after graduating in May 1966, he was inducted in the U.S. Army, serving a tour in Vietnam.

After he was discharged from the military service in May 1968, Norman relocated to Washington, D.C. He was employed with the U.S. Department of Agriculture as a budget analyst until he retired on disability in 1977.

Norman was united in holy matrimony to Dorothy Halsey Bell on December 28, 1968. No children were born from this union. However, he loved children and was interested in helping them exceed in their education. For many years, Norman volunteered his time tutoring children at several public schools in the District of Columbia and Maryland.

He was also commended for his performance and dedication as an Army Community Service Volunteer at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, D.C.  While residing in the District of Columbia, Norman was a faithful member of Metropolitan Baptist Church and was loved by his church friends. He later relocated to Norfolk, Virginia.

Those remaining to cherish the memories of Norman are his loving wife Dorothy Bell; one aunt, Ruth Johnson of Chesapeake, VA; four sisters-in-law, Alma Harold and Anita Phillips of Virginia Beach, VA; Queenie Gibson (Apos. Fred Gibson) and Iris Halsey of Washington, D.C.; two brothers-in-law, Johnie Halsey (Rosa) of Forestville, MD; and Elder Lee Halsey of Washington, D.C.; one godson, Matthew Brown, IV, of Washington, D.C., and many relatives and friends.

A funeral service will be held 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, March 10, 2018 at Pretlow and Sons Funeral Home. Viewing will be on Friday, March 9, 2018 from 5pm until 7pm at the funeral home. Burial will be Monday at Albert G. Horton, Jr. Memorial Veterans Cemetery Suffolk.