Obituary of Vincent Bell

Vincent Austin Bell II, of La Crescenta passed away on January 7, 2013. He was formerly a banker in Los Angeles, having served as Executive Vice President, Chief Operating Officer and Secretary with several banks over a career spanning more than forty years. Mr. Bell was born in Clinton, IA, on October 30, 1923, to Vincent Bell and Clara Stapelton Bell. He attended school is Morrison, IL, and graduated from Morrison High School in 1941. He was employed by Ingersoll Milling Machine Company in Rockford, IL, prior to enlisting as an Aviation Cadet in 1942. He graduated as a pilot in Class 44-D and served as a B-17 pilot with the 346th Bomb Squadron, 99th Bomb Group (H) of the Fifteenth Air Force in Foggia, Italy. In later years he became active in the 99th Bomb Group Historical Society, having attended most of their reunions over the past several years, and served as a director and Vice President of that organization. Mr. Bell attended the State University of Iowa, graduating with bachelors degree in political science in 1949, and a law degree in 1951. He was recalled in the Air Force as a pilot in 1951, and served two years as a Judge Advocate and as a pilot. He remained active in the Reserve of the U.S. Air Force, and retired as a Colonel in 1975. Following his service during the Korean War he was employed by the Union Back & Trust Co. of Los Angeles until 1970. He was then employed by the Korea Exchange Bank, of Seoul, Korea, as an Advisor in the Los Angeles Agency, until 1974. That bank retained him to organize its first subsidiary in the United States and he served as a Director & Senior Vice President until 1980. He then organized Wilshire State Bank in Los Angeles and served as Director & Senior Vice President, leaving to organize another bank in Los Angeles where he served as Executive Vice President, Chief Operating Officer & Secretary until his birthday in 1993. He was a Director in three different banks over a twenty one year period. Mr. Bell was active in Los Angeles Shrine Temple, Malaikah, as a First Regular Member of its Crescent Patrol. He was a also a member of the Royal Order of Jesters, Court 84, and Los Angeles Commandery #9, KT, Peace Officers Shrine Club. He was a fifty year member of Iowa City Lodge #4, AF & AM. He was also belonged to Phi Alpha Delta Law Fraternity, the Retired Air Force Judge Advocated Association, and to the Iowa Law School Foundation President’s Club of the University of Iowa Alumni Association. He was married to Luciann Smith on August 20, 1949, in Davenport, IA. They made home in Iowa City, IA, Greenville, SC, and Glendale and La Crescenta. He was preceded in death by his parents, brother, Robert Spencer Bell, and a niece, Barbara Ann Bell Keller. He is survived by his wife, daughter Ann Wilson (Denton) and their children Tyler & Alexandra and his son, Vincent Austin Bell (Leila) and their children Jabe & Lucy. Services will be held Saturday, January 12 in the Crescenta Valley United Methodist Church, 2700 Montrose Ave. Additional information can be found at www.crippenmortuary.com