English Teacher

Services set for retired teacher, college professor Rea Moody Bell

Services for Rea Moody Bell, a retired high school teacher with the Carrollton -Farmers Branch Independent School District and Dallas County Community College professor, will be at 1 p.m. Friday at Lovers Lane United Methodist Church in Dallas. A private burial at Hillcrest Memorial Park will precede the service.

Dr. Bell, 68, died of cancer Tuesday at her Dallas home.

She taught English for 19 years at R.L. Turner High School in the Carrollton -Farmers Branch school district. After her retirement from Turner, she taught within the Dallas County Community College District for 15 years at several campuses, including Eastfield, Brookhaven, North Lake and Richland. At DCCCD she taught English composition, technical writing and literature.

At the time of her death, she was teaching two English classes at the Richland campus.

"She just loved poetry and literature," said her daughter, Carol Walton of Dallas. "She loved sharing that with kids. She was just a natural teacher."

She was born in LaFayette, Texas, and raised in Pittsburg, Texas. She moved to Dallas in 1947 and attended Southern Methodist University, where she received her bachelor's degree in fashion merchandising in 1949.

She went on to receive her master's degree from North Texas State University in 1969 and her doctorate in education from East Texas State University in the early 1970s.

"To me, it was remarkable that after being a housewife for 20 years for her to go back to get her doctorate," said her husband, Jack K. Bell Jr. of Dallas. "She would get up at 4 a.m. and drive over to Commerce. She was just very strong."

Dr. Bell is also survived by a son, Keith Bell of Dallas; another daughter, Kathryn Brunk of Ada, Okla.; a sister, Marilyn Neustadt of Ardmore, Okla.; and seven grandchildren.
 

The Dallas Morning News - Thursday, May 16, 1996
Submitted by Edward Lynn Williams

BELL
REA Moody, EdD, beloved wife, mother and grandmother. born in Lafayette, Texas to James Otis and Grace Moody. Raised in Pittsburg, Texas. Passed away May 14th. Survived by husband, Jack K. bell, Jr.; children and spouses Keith and Brenda Bell, Kathryn and Bill Brunk, Carol and Robert Walton; grandchildren, Derek Bell and wife, Denise, Taylor, Brittany and Ariel Bell, Rob and Kayli Brunk and Anastasia Walton. Also survived by sister, Marilyn Neustadt. Attended Baylor University. Received B. A. from SMU, MA from NTSU and EdD from ETSU. Memberships: Delta Delta Delta, Phi Delta Kaappa, Sigma Tau Delta, Delta Kaapa Gamma, American Association of University Women. Taught English 19 years at R. L. Turner and 15 years at Eastfield Brookhaven, Northlake and Richland DCCC Campuses. Life long member of the Methodist Church and a member of Lovers Lane United Methodist Church for 17 years where she served on Administrative Board Communications and Long Range Planning commissions, Council of Ministries, Past President of the Adult Forum Class.  Taught the Bethel Bible Series at LLUMC and the Austin Street Shelter. Currently president of Lovers Lane United Methodist Women. Memorial service at 1:00 p.m. Friday at LOVERS LANE UNITED METHODIST CHURCH, 9200 Inwood Road, Dallas. Private graveside service at Sparkman Hillcrest. In lieu of flowers, remembrances may be made to the Rea Bell Memorial Theological Scholarship Fund at Lovers Lane United Methodist Church.
METROCREST FUNERAL HOME - Carrollton

The Dallas Morning News - Friday, May 17, 1996
Submitted by Edward Lynn Williams

BELL

Jack R. Jr - Oct 18, 1926 - Aug 31, 2003
Rea Moody - Nov 26, 1927 - May 14, 1996

WED: 7 15 49
We Thank God For Our Time Together

Sparkman Hillcrest, Dallas, Dallas County, Texas