George Gordon BELL

BELL, MCGOWAN, HANSEN, STOAKES, MCCUTCHEON, HANSON, AMOSSON, PETERSON, DUNCAN, SWANSON, GRABER, LEANING, PEER, BRADLEY

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 9/3/2010 at 10:11:08

August 13, 1917 -- February 7, 1943

Memorial Services Held Sunday at M. E. Church For Pfc. G. Gordon Bell

Memorial services were held Sunday afternoon at the Methodist church for Pfc. George Gordon Bell,
26, who lost his life in action in the north Atlantic ocean early in February. The official date of his death was given as February 7, 1943. by the war department. The Harvey McPeak post of the American Legion and the women's auxiliary conducted the services with their memorial ritual. Rev. E. D. Hart preached the sermon and Miss Helen Latch sang "America the Beautiful" and Miss Latch and Miss Pauline Klassie sang "Living for Jesus" during the service. More than $100 was contributed by local friends to be given to the Red Cross as a memorial to the deceased, and relatives contributed a sum of money for the erection of a plaque in his memory.

Relatives and friends attending the services from away included: Mr. and Mrs. Braden Stoakes, W. P. McCutcheon and daughters and Mr. and Mrs. Peter Hanson of Goldfield, Mr. and Mrs. Arlo McGowan of Kanawha, Mr. and Mrs. Rudy Amosson and Mr. and Mrs. Guy Peterson and children of Dows, Mr. and Mrs. Fred Duncan and Miss Jennie Swanson of Fort Dodge, Hans Hanson of Waverly, Miss Mildred Hanson and Mr. and Mrs. Everett Graber and daughters of Des Moines, Mr. and Mrs. Lloyd Leaning and Mr. and Mrs. Norman Peer of Hardy, and Walter and Joe Bradley of Algona.

George Gordon Bell was born August 13, 1917, at Renwick, Iowa, and died February 7, 1943, in the
service of his country as the result of enemy action while in the line of duty on the north Atlantic ocean. Gordon spent his boyhood days in Renwick and vicinity. He attended the Renwick school until bis parents moved to a farm in Vernon township. His high school education was completed at the Vernon consolidated school where be graduated in 1935. He was a member of the Methodist church of Renwick; being baptized when an infant and accepting the vows of the church March 24, 1929. Following his graduation from high school he continued farm work for a short time until he accepted a position at M. B. Richardson's hardware store in Renwick where he was employed for several years, until February 1941. He was also employed for a short time at S. H. Klassie's; garage. He moved to Kanawha in July 1941 and entered the oil business as a salesman and distributor, for the Mid-Continent Petroleum corporation. He was united in marriage to Helen Arlene Hansen of Goldfield. Iowa, on December 19, 1941. They resided at Kanawha until he was called into the service in the U. S. Army on August 26, 1942. He was first sent to Fort Leavenworth. Kans., and later transferred to Camp Robison, Ark. for basic training. He was next transferred to the Midwest Motive Institute at Bloomington, Ill., a branch of the ordnance department, where he graduated with high honors.

On December 19, 1942, he was transferred to Camp Miles Standish at Taunton, Mass., and at a later date embarked from the east coast for overseas duty. It was while on this convoy that his ship was attacked by submarines. An excerpt from the official notice received from Major General J. A. Ulio states: "He was a passenger on a ship which was attacked by an enemy submarine^ After the vessel was struck every effort was made to effect the rescue of those who were aboard. Such efforts were continued long beyond the period of time that human life could survive the elements in the area."

He is survived by his wife, Arlene, his parents, Mr. and Mrs. George W. Bell, his grandfather, James McGowan of Goldfield, and many other relatives. His brother James preceded him in death October 22, 1937.

August 26, 1943
Renwick Times, Renwick, Iowa