Imogene Richie Bell

Imogene Richie Bell, age 80, of Rensselaer passed away Saturday, March 21, 2015, at the VNA Horton Hospice Center in Valparaiso, IN. Imogene was born in Elmrock, KY on April 11, 1934, the daughter of the late Coet and Hattie (Messer) Dobson. She graduated from the Gillam Township School. Imogene was an employee of Sealy Spring manufacturing for the majority of her working years, and also employed as a secretary at Jim Dobson Ford in Winamac before entering into retirement. She was a member of the Hamlet Lions Club, the Starke County Historical Society, and the Better Homes Home Economics Club in Knox, IN. Imogene was a graduate of the Dale Carnegie Skills for Success Course, and was voted ‘Best Public Speaker’ by her fellow participants. Never one to be idle, Imogene served as a volunteer with the Pulaski County Hospice and with the Pulaski Memorial Hospital Aux, and was a member of the Oak Grove Primitive Baptist Church. Imogene’s first marriage was to Frelin Richie on October 4, 1952 and he passed away on February 20, 1980. On August 26, 1989, she married Thomas Jefferson Bell and he passed away on October 23, 1993. Surviving are her loving children, Loretta Heidler of DeMotte, Karen Harding of Crown Point, Colleen (Charles) DeMoss of Wheatfield and Douglas (Tina) Richie of Rensselaer; 9 grandchildren and 11 great grandchildren. She is also survived by brothers, Hobart (Adna) Dobson of Rensselaer and William (Diane) Dobson of FL; sisters Claudine Childers of Francesville and Gladys (Larry) Stonebraker of Brookston; brother-in-law, Cecil Williams of Rensselaer; and 2 sisters-in-law, Jean Dobson of Winamac and Alice Dobson of Rensselaer. Imogene was preceded in death by her parents, 2 husbands, a daughter, Vicky Lynn Richie, brothers, John and James Dobson, and a sister, Erma Williams. Friends may call Tuesday, March 24, 2015, from 2:00 - 8:00 P.M. (CST) at the Jackson Funeral Chapel of Rensselaer. Funeral services will be held on Wednesday, March 25, 2015, at 10:00 A.M. (CST) at the Jackson Funeral Chapel of Rensselaer with Elder Thurman Ritchie officiating. Burial will follow at Richie Cemetery, Rensselaer. Memorials may be made to the Oak Grove Primitive Baptist Church.

Imogene Richie Bell

April 11, 1934 - March 21, 2015