John Bell was the first born child of Raymond and Ethel Bell. He was born August 18, 1920 and grew up in Muskegon, and Midland.

John served in the US Navy during World War 2. He married Sylvia Schneider and had two daughters - Dorothea and Cynthia.

He died on August 15, 2000. Sylvia died 10 years later on November 6, 2010.