Vernon Alfred Bell, 90, of Columbus, Missouri, died Saturday, March 5, at Western Missouri Medical Center in Warrensburg.

The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday, March 8, at Williams Funeral Chapel in Holden.  Funeral services will be 2 p.m. Wednesday, March 9, at the funeral home with Pastor Travis Webb, Brother Don Sloan and Brother Jerry Lockwood of Enon Baptist Church officiating.  Interment will follow in Cumberland Presbyterian Cemetery at Columbus with Military Honors provided by Holden Veterans of Foreign Wars, Post No. 5844 and Munday-Hancock Post No. 90, American Legion.

Vernon was born May 8, 1925, on the family farm at Columbus, Missouri, son of James Ossie Bell and Annie (Specker) Bell.

He attended both Crossroads and Pruess Country Schools. He worked on his parent’s farm prior to serving in the United States Army during World War II. Vernon received a Purple Heart on March 24, 1945, and was discharged on May 21, 1946. Following military service, he returned to farming. He was united in marriage to Charlotte Mae Shore on April 17, 1949, in Higginsville. In the mid-1950s, the couple purchased a farm of their own in Columbus. For 35 years, Vernon also worked at Bendix in Kansas City, now known as Honeywell Industries, retiring in 1991. Vernon attended Enon Baptist Church at Pittsville.

Survivors include daughter, Joyce Quick and husband, Layne of Lone Jack; three sons, Larry Bell and wife, Sherol Kay of Holden, Terry Bell and wife, Sue of Centerview, and Gary Bell and wife, Tina of Centerview; seven granddaughters; five grandsons; one great-granddaughter; five great grandsons; and numerous nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Charlotte in March of 2015; four sisters, Bettie Graham, Georgia Colster Vogler, Anna Mae Kessler and Vergie Elling; and two brothers: Leroy Bell and Sterling Bell.

Memorial contributions are suggested to Cumberland Presbyterian Cemetery Association.

Online condolences may be left at williamsfuneralchapel.net.