Larry Bell

Larry Bell

Larry was born in Beaumont,Texas to Leon and Aline (Van Riper) Bell on July 19, 1935.

He attended high school in Beaumont and earned his bachelor’s degree from Austin College in Sherman, Texas.  He served in the army in Berlin, then returned to the University of Texas, Austin, where he earned a Master’s degree in political science and history. After teaching in community colleges in Tyler and San Antonio, he was recruited in 1967 to join the first teaching faculty of then Tarrant County Junior College.  He taught government, serving as department chair until 1993.

Larry married Leta McKinley in 1997, and the couple moved to Albany in 2001, first living in the Dyess house before moving to their home on  North Jacobs Street.  The Bells were committed volunteers at Trinity Episcopal Church, where Larry was Senior Warden, and were also docents at the Old Jail Art Center.  Larry served on the Shackelford County Historic Commission and was a speaker at many civic events both in Tarrant  County and Shackelford.  Larry was a columnist for the Albany News, writing the “Amblin’ Through Albany” for 16 years.

Larry Bell is survived by his wife, Leta; his sons David Bell (Chu-Yu) of Taipei, Taiwan, and John Bell of Arlington, Virginia;and Sean Van Slyke and Michael Van Slyke (Amanda).