Suzanne Shanahan Bell, age 76, died Tuesday, March 19, 2013, in Riverside, CA. Death was due to complications of pneumonia. Due to additional medical complications, Mrs. Bell had been confined to the hospital and skilled nursing facilities for the last eight months.

Mrs. Bell was born in Rochester, NY, September 24, 1936, graduated from St. Agnes Academy and worked for Eastman Kodak. It was on a visit to New York City where she met her husband-to-be, William H. Bell (Colonel, USAF, Ret), then a Captain, during the taping of “The Ed Sullivan Show” on Easter Sunday in 1956.

Married six months later in October of 1956, Mrs. Bell traveled with her husband to Germany, where he was assigned for duty, and where their three children were born. After Germany, the family lived in Niagara Falls, NY, Rochester, and Montgomery, AL (Maxwell AFB), traveled back to Wies-baden, Germany, back to Montgomery, and finally settled in Riverside in 1975 when her husband retired from the Air Force.

During the family’s last tour of duty in Germany, Mrs. Bell accompanied her husband throughout Europe while he coordinated with intelligence personnel of various friendly countries. She served as a Goodwill Ambassador to the wives of foreign dignitaries, military counterparts, and other allied officers. Her skill, tact, and diplomacy as a hostess were unsurpassed and contributed greatly to the friendly cooperation between countries.

For many years in Riverside, Mrs. Bell was an active and very involved volunteer for numerous charitable organizations and community groups. She was an industrious, self-motivated, and intelligent woman who formed and was president of two of her own companies in Riverside: an advertising company and a catering company.

When one mentions the name Suzanne Bell, music and singing come to mind. She loved to sing and shared her gift with everyone. As a young lady, she had her own music show on radio in Rochester. Many lives have been touched by this amazing lady and her lovely voice in and around Riverside.

Surviving are her husband of 57 years, Colonel William H. Bell; her daughters, Suzanne Bell de Garcia of Long Beach, CA, and Kathleen Shanahan Bell-Conine of Zebulon, NC; her grandson, Alexander Javier Garcia-Bell of Long Beach; and two brothers, Frank Shanahan of Fort Pearce, FL, and Daniel Shanahan of Carlsbad, CA. She was preceded in death by her parents; her sister, Gloria Lahon; her brother, Joseph Shanahan; and her son, William M. S. Bell.

Graveside Memorial Service and Inurnment: 11:00 A.M., Wednesday, May 15, 2013, Home Cemetery, Tarkio, Missouri.
There is no visitation.
In lieu of flowers, remembrances can be made to the Disabled American Veterans (DAV), PO Box 14301, Cincinnati, OH 45250-0301.
Online obituaries and condolences at www.minterfuneralchapels.com
Services: Davis Funeral Home, Tarkio.