Larry O. Bell, 85, of Paris passed away Friday June 18, 2010 in Paris Regional Medical Center North.

 He was born on October 21, 1924 in Cunningham, Texas a son of Alex D. and Viola Temple Bell.

 He graduated from Cunningham High School in 1942 as valedictorian of his senior class, played basketball for the Cunningham Warriors and was captain of the team.  Mr. Bell worked for many years for R.V. Free Furniture and Reeps Furniture of which he was co-owner. He was a longstanding member of the United Pentecostal Church where he served as Sunday School Superintendent for over 58 years. He was a former member of the Kiwanis and Breakfast Optimist Club. While in the Breakfast Optimist Club he served as president and was active in boy’s baseball serving as baseball commissioner.

He married the former Virginia DeShong on July 4, 1942 in Cunningham.

He is survived by his wife of 67 years, Virgina Bell of the home; children Linda And Larry Ray of Summerville, South Carolina, Ann and Sonny Thompson of Blossom, David and Denise Bell of Paris and Michael Bell of Dallas; grandchildren Teri and Waymon Creamer, Kathy and Larry Ballard, Ann Ray, Kristin and Clay Carsner, Jamie Ray, Rodney and Becky Jones, Jeff and Vicki Jones, Crystal and Rod Richardson, Stacie and Jeremy Newberry and Hannah Bell; 21 great grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews.

 He was preceded in death by his parents; 3 brothers Joe Harold Bell, Harold T. Bell, John M. Bell; 2 sisters Robbie Bell Cox and Loretta Bell Allen.

 Funeral services will be conducted at 2:00 P.M. Monday, June, 21, 2010,  in the United Pentecostal Church in Paris with the Rev. Robert Myre officiating. Burial will follow in the Restland Cemetery in Cunningham with Rodney Jones, Jeff Jones, Rod Richardson, Cameron Creamer, Tyler Creamer, Daniel Lawrence, Michael Womack, and Waymon Creamer serving as pallbearers. Honorary pallbearers will be Arlton Bristow, John David Griffith, Bob Bolton, and Gene Frierson. Family will receive friends from 5 P.M. till 7:00 P.M. Sunday at the Fry-Gibbs Funeral Home.