Malra "Buddy" Bell

Retired First Sergeant Malra "Buddy" Crews Bell, age 74, of Rome, passed away, Monday, September 16, 2013 at Redmond Regional Hospital. Born in Cassville, Georgia, December 20, 1938, he was the son of the late Raymond E. Bell, Sr. and the late Lula Catherine Crews Bell Ross.
Buddy served in the United States Navy and the U.S. Army, serving in the Army from 1961-1978. His stateside duty included: Fort Leonardwood, Missouri, Fort Knox, Kentucky, Fort Benning, Georgia, Fort Wainwright, Alaska, Fort Ord, California, Ford Dix, New Jersey, and recruiting duty at Cherry Hill, New Jersey. His overseas duty included: Germany, Korea, and two tours in Vietnam. The first one was with the Company A 2nd Battalion, 7th Cavalry and the 1st Cavalry Division. He was wounded November 19, 1965 in the Ia Drang Valley. His second tour of duty in Vietnam was as an advisor on a Mobile Advisory Team. After retiring from the Army, Buddy worked as a Merchant Seaman in the Gulf of Mexico until May of 1989, starting as a deckhand and working up to Captain. He then worked on overseas assignments and was docked at Kuwait City when the first Gulf War started. He continued his work on ocean tugs in the Gulf of Mexico, with trips to Chile, Venezuela, El Salvador, and Africa. Buddy later drove a truck for Floyd County before retiring in 2001.
Buddy was a member of the 1st Cavalry Division Association, the Military Order of the Purple Heart, Combat Infantryman's Association, Veterans of Foreign Wars, The American Legion and the Disabled American Veterans.
Survivors include his wife, Anita Arseneau Bell of Rome; four daughters, Marla Rozier (Bobby) of Cartersville, Dona Scrivani of Cartersville, Tina McMahon (Billy) of New Jersey, and Dawn Forsyth (Eric) of Taylorsville; thirteen grandchildren; fifteen great grandchildren; one brother, Raymond E. Bell, Jr; three sisters-in-law, Pauline Servin of Apache Junction, Arizona, Audrey Arsenau of Tularosa, New Mexico and Marge Hagen of Kingston, Georgia.
Graveside services will be conducted at 12:30 p.m., Friday, September 20, 2013, in the Georgia National Cemetery in Canton.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the: 1st of the 7th Cavalry Division Association/Scholarship Fund, 302 N. Main, Copperas Cove, TX, 76522-1703
Parnick Jennings Funeral Home and Cremation Services is honored to serve the family of Retired First Sergeant Malra "Buddy" Bell; please visit www.parnickjenningsfuneral.com to share memories or to leave a condolence message.