Janette ‘Jan’ Elaine Bell

Janette “Jan” Elaine (Dale) Bell, 75, Winona Lake, died Oct. 24, 2022, at Peabody Retirement Community, North Manchester.

She was born July 14, 1947 in Los Angeles, Calif., to James and Grace Dale.

She married her best friend, love and global teammate in the Great Commission of Jesus, Jay M. Bell, on July 10, 1971. At that point in life, she had never stepped foot on a plane. Her future to follow was full of adventures that were deeply rooted in ministry among major world cities and on dirt paths into remote villages in Cambodia. Jan’s life was marked by a beautiful partnership with her husband to spread the good news of Jesus to people both near and far. Jan was a teacher by trade and at heart. Whether teaching English to a child or to an adult, each person knew they were cared for and loved.

Married over 50 years, Jan never stopped the pursuit of God’s calling on her life to touch the lives of people. Her 20th anniversary was spent driving across Europe with her family. Her 30th anniversary found her clinging to the back of Jay on a moped as they dodged the potholes that riddled the dirt roads of Cambodia between villages. By her 50th anniversary, Jan was bound to a wheelchair and battling dementia, but she and Jay still spent an evening with family and friends singing hymns of thanksgiving for the wonderful life God had given them. Despite hardship, Jan was rooted and established in the love of Jesus Christ, and she knew a fullness that comes from this love that surpasses knowledge.

Romans 10:15b, “As it is written: ‘How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!'”

Jan is survived by her husband, Jay M. Bell, Winona Lake; daughter Kristin A. (David D.) Jones, Winona Lake; her son Stephen (Steve) M. Bell, Denver, Colo.; and her grandchildren, Katie E. Jones and Josh D. Jones, Winona Lake. She is also survived by her brother, John A. (Barbara) Dale, Los Angeles, Calif.

The Celebration of Life service will take place at 1 p.m., Saturday, Nov. 5, 2022, at Winona Lake Grace Brethren Church, 1200 Kings Highway, Winona Lake, and officiated by her husband, Pastor Jay Bell. A graveside service will follow at Oakwood Cemetery, Warsaw.

Friends and family may visit from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. prior to the service at the church. Arrangements were entrusted to Redpath-Fruth Funeral Home, 225 Argonne Road, Warsaw.

As an expression of sympathy, in lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Encompass World Partners, PO Box 64528, Colorado Springs, CO 80962-4528 (indicate it is for Charis Alliance South East Asia #3078 in memory of Jan Bell). Or give online at give.encompassworldpartners.org/person/casa. (At the bottom of the page, right above the button to finalize the gift, there is an option to give in memory of someone.)

Online condolences may be sent through the funeral home’s website at www.redpathfruthfuneralhome.com.