John W. Bell, 84, died Friday, Feb. 25, 2005, at Home Place in Oak Harbor. A 35-year resident of Whidbey Island, Dr. Bell was born Dec. 11, 1920 in Seattle to William C. Bell and Idris Fickle Bell.

Dr. Bell was raised in Seattle, graduated from Roosevelt High School and went on to the University of Washington. After graduating from the UW he went to medical school at Northwestern University in Chicago. It was in Chicago that he met Margaret Moody. It was a perfect fit, John being and physician and Margaret a registered nurse. They were married in Seattle during World War II.

Dr. Bell served as the chief surgical resident at Boston City Hospital before moving to Sunmount, N.Y., where he ultimately became head of thoracic surgery at the Veterans Administration Hospital. In 1956 he and Margaret moved to Seattle where he became chief of surgery for the Veterans Hospital. Dr. Bell went on to become a professor of surgery at the University of Washington Medical School.

Along with his many other accomplishments Dr. Bell was active in the military, he joined the United States Navy and served on a troop ship as the ship’s doctor. When he left the Navy he joined the U.S. Army Reserves Medical Corps and became commander of the 50th Army General Hospital. He subsequently retired from the Army as a colonel.

Dr. and Mrs. Bell moved to Whidbey Island in 1970, where he continued to work on the Joint Accreditation Committee. He worked for five years in that position traveling and establishing accreditation for various hospitals.

Dr. Bell is survived by a daughter, Barbara Kennedy and husband Jim of Lexington, Va., and two sons, Mark S. Bell with wife Virginia of Hansville and Christopher Bell with wife Lisa of Shelton. He is also survived by six grandchildren, Jason Kennedy, Tamara Bohling, Scott Bell, Traci Skyta, Jake Bell and Jacqui Oliver. He also leaves behind four great-grandchildren.

Dr. Bell was preceded in death by his wife of nearly 60 years, Margaret and his brother Richard Bell, M.D., of Shoreline.

Visitation was held March 1 at Burley Funeral Chapel followed by a graveside service at Sunnyside Cemetery in Coupeville. Arrangements were entrusted to Burley Funeral Chapel.