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EXETER - John A. Bell, devoted husband of the recently deceased M. Thelma Bell, with whom he shared 56 years of marriage, passed away at home in Exeter on July 3, 2014. He was born in Exeter on November 28, 1930 to the late Alexander and Clara (Hanson) Bell. John was a proficient outdoorsman, hunting and trapping in the vicinity of the Waterworks Pond in his youth. He graduated from Exeter High School in 1948, playing on the state championship basketball team in his senior year. He also played first base on the Exeter High School and the Exeter Bears baseball teams. He attended the University of New Hampshire Whittemore School of Business and served with distinction in the U. S. Marine Corps during the Korean conflict. Upon honorable discharge from the service he founded Bell & Flynn, Inc. a local site and paving company with his childhood friend and classmate, John Flynn.

He married his wife Thelma on January 12, 1957 and actively participated in the Exeter community during the next half century assisting in the planning and construction of the Town of Exeter Public Safety Complex and Recreational Facility. He was a dedicated director of the Exeter Cooperative Bank and its subsequent iterations and a former member of the Exeter Rotary Club. An avid golfer, he was a former member of several local golf clubs. With his dry wit, he was known to keep golfing "opponents", as well as family and friends on constant guard. In addition to his wife Thelma, John was predeceased by two sons, Stephen P. Bell in 1980 and Timothy A. Bell in 2005, and a grandson, Tyler Bell in 2013. He was also predeceased by his sister Blenda (Bell) Zocchi of Newmarket. He is survived by his son John T. Bell of Exeter; his son and daughter-in-law Brian and Faith Bell of Exeter; his daughter-in-law Lauri Bell of East Kingston; his grandchildren Katie Bell of Dover, Nikki Bell of Exeter and Alec and Hanna Bell of East Kingston.

Calling hours will be held on Monday, July 7, 2014 from 5 p.m.-8 p.m. at the Brewitt Funeral Home, 14 Pine St., Exeter, NH. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Tuesday, July 8, 2014 at 11 a.m. at St. Michael Church, Exeter, NH. Burial will follow in the Exeter Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in his memory to the Bell-Flynn-Caley Scholarship Fund, c/o Citizens Bank, Attention-Sharon Parker, 875 Elm St. 4-6 Manchester, NH 03101 or the Rockingham VNA and Hospice, 137 Epping Rd., Exeter, NH 03833. For more information, please visit www.brewittfuneralhome.com