Richard Bell

Richard (Dick) Russell Bell, 86, of Slippery Rock, Pa., formerly of Clintonville for 80 years, passed away peacefully surrounded by his loving family at his home on June 3, 2025.

Richard was born on July 12, 1938, in Grove City. He was the son of the late Robert Russell Bell and Dorothy Mae Miller Bell.

Richard attended grade school in Clintonville, high school in both Clintonville and Grove City, and graduated from Victory Joint High School in 1956 as the second class to commence from the newly built school. He married Mary Louanna Hovis on June 15, 1963. Together the couple had one daughter, Susan Elaine, in December 1965, and would have celebrated 62 years of marriage this month.

Richard attended Grove City College for a year immediately following high school as a pre-med major while in the Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) program, completing basic training at Fort Knox. After 6 months in the Army, he transferred to the Air Force (Reserves), serving for four years as an MP (Military Police) stationed out of Franklin, Pennsylvania. He completed his military service on February 3, 1965. Having an ardent interest in computers and electronics, he subsequently attended Penn Tech in Pittsburgh, earning an Associates/Certificate degree. He worked at Amalie Refinery in Franklin as the advertising manager and then at an ad agency in Pittsburgh for a short time. He became Acting Postmaster at the Post Office in Clintonville and was promoted to Postmaster on June 26, 1967, working in Clintonville, Kennerdell, and Emlenton until the late 1970s. His interest in advertising led him to start his own printing and advertising business, which lasted for decades and was very successful, as he took great pride in keeping up with the latest technological innovations in printing and advertising specialties.

Richard had a curious mind and boundless energy as demonstrated by his wide and varying hobbies and interests. He was an avid animal lover, owning and breeding miniature horses Charlie, Velvet, and Lacie. Charlie was a beloved companion who was often seen in parades, schools, and at community festivals, delighting children and adults alike. He was a certified therapy horse who worked with children with various disabilities. Richard bred and raised not only a variety of upland birds and waterfowl such as pheasants, quail, guineas, ducks, and geese but also other animals such as rabbits and chickens and Springer Spaniels (with whom he hunted). He was an avid photographer and camera collector, having his own dark room to process his work. He tinkered with electronics of all kinds, was an active member of a snowmobile club in Kennerdell and enjoyed other outdoor activities such as hiking and camping. He and his wife travelled together to Europe (France, Germany, Switzerland, Italy, Austria, the Danube) and throughout the United States, including Alaska and Hawaii. He was an avid reader of biographies and loved movies. He was a pilot, taking his lessons at the Franklin Airport, and he enjoyed flying small aircraft while also being certified as a classroom instructor. He also loved model and hobby trains.

Richard belonged to the Lions Club International (Clintonville chapter), serving as a member for 50 years. He was an EMT and firefighter for Clintonville Volunteer Fire Department and was the Program Administrator for Venango Area Riding for the Handicapped Association (VARHA), launching the organization and overseeing the building of the arena where children with a variety of disabilities participated in horseback riding and therapeutical exercises. He was a member of Clintonville Union Presbyterian church for 63 years where he and Mary Lou attended, serving as Clerk of Session and Elder at various times.

Loved ones left to cherish Richard’s memory are his wife Mary Lou of Slippery Rock, his daughter Susan Elaine and her husband, Clinton Master, of Slippery Rock; his granddaughters, Chelsea (Jesse) Laughner and Ashley (Spencer) Rea; and two dear grandsons, Jayce and Jayden Laughner.

Richard was welcomed into heaven by his parents after a long battle with Alzheimer’s disease.

Richard’s family will welcome friends at the Larry E. McKinley Funeral Home, 109 Emlenton Street, Clintonville, on Friday, June 6 from 2:00 - 4:00 p.m. and from 6:00 - 8:00 p.m. Funeral services will take place at the Union Presbyterian Church on Saturday, June 7 at 11:00 a.m. with the Reverend Dr. Robert Guy officiating.

Memorial contributions may be made to Union Presbyterian Church in Clintonville, Pennsylvania. Friends and family can email condolences by visiting www.mckinleyfuneralhome.net

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