He lived a life serving others and even through his death, his legacy for helping others continues.
Harry Allen Bell was born in Freeland, Michigan on July 2, 1923, and enlisted in the Army Air Corps just after Pearl Harbor was bombed and served as a gunner on B-24 heavy bombers, flying 50 missions in Europe during WWII.
When he left the service in 1945, he married, went to college at Central Michigan College, and graduated as a civil engineer. Harry has always been one to give back to his community as an active member in the SCV Rotary Club for 45 years, and part of the formation of HMNMH. He was also a Mason 32nd Degree, an Elk, and a Shriner, with years of volunteer work at the Children’s Hospital. Recognized for his generosity and devotion, Bell was nominated and named the 2011 SCV Man of the Year alongside Woman of the Year, Candy Spahr.
As a licensed commercial pilot with instrument rating and a Sea Plane rating, Harry served as a flight instructor and flew countless humanitarian missions to Mexico transporting doctors to poor villages to perform free surgeries on burned or crippled children. On July 5, 2012, Harry passed away in a plane crash near an orange grove about 100 feet from Highway 126.
To honor Harry and his mission to help others, there will be a Wine Tasting for the Veterans at the beautiful Agua Dulce Winery in Agua Dulce. The event will take place from 1 p.m. until 3 p.m. Enjoy an afternoon with some hors d’oeuvres and music by the talented Jimmy Carnelli. Tickets are $55 and will benefit the Harry Bell Memorial Fund for Veterans. The Agua Dulce Winery is located at 9640 Sierra Highway.
For more information about the event or to purchase tickets, call 661-857-1853 or visit http://harrybellmemorialfund.org.