Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1904-02-26
DEATHS DURING THE WEEK.
RICHARD P. BELL.

- RICHARD P. BELL.
On Monday last about Z O'Clock MI
t Richard. T. Bell departed this life a
MS residence in this city. aged. abou
81 years, having been born May &. 1893
This.event though fully expected cas-
a gloom over the entire community
J. Mr.. Bell had long been in dellcat
health, he bad been unable for sewers
10 years to leave his houee save for
short period, but his wonderful vital
ty, his indomitable will, and grea
cheerfulness had bouyed him through
+ his long illness, and not until few
DAYS ago when he was seized witt
d grippe was his condition regarded as
: critical. Frail and delicate. however,
he soon succummed to the disease
but as one who had been summoned
upon a joyous mission, drew his CLOAK
about him and lay down to pleasant
dreams" No citizen of Staunton was
held in higher esteem. A gentleman
by instinct and cultivation, trusted by
all who knew him, sage counselor,
an able advocate, he stood in the front
rank of the bar in this city. True be
was to all those obligations of husband,
father and friend; true as counselor
and advocate, true as apublic servant,
and true to his religious duties, and
devoted to his church. He was
never aggressive, he was of such mod
est and retiring natureth that he won not
as the physical, but as the intellectual
giant.h & His summing mp of facts was
always masterful, and his application
of legal principals to the facts was so
clear and logical that he carried con-
viction as chaff before wind.
| But it was not there that he shone
most brilliantly. 1t was in his. home
| by his Preside, amongst his family.
| Here the true manhood that was in
him welded an influence and moulded
the lives and character of a. splendid
household Of children, endowed Law
ishly by nature, and enriched by the
teaching and example of devoted and
gifted father.
He.was educated in the best private
schools, then he graduated from the
Virginia Military Institute, and then
he studied law at the University of
Virginia in that. great law school of
Professr John B. Minor, from which
be graduated with the degree of Bach
ellor of Law in 1874. He,entered imme-
diately upon the practice in the Office
of the we'll known firm OF Echols, Bell
& Catlett. and continued the particle
until his feeble health forced him to
give it up. On April %, 1876, he mar
ried Miss Emma Frazier, daughter of
William Frazier, Esq, of this city, a
lady in every way worthy of such a
husband, who with five children
Richard p. Lewis P, Janet, Anne and
Sue, survive him. These were about
him during his last illness, except
Lewis, who reached home from the
Va. Polytechnic Institute only few :,
moments before his father 8 death. He /.
is also survived by one sister. Mrs. ..
Gilpin Wilson of Staunton, and one
brother, Henderson M. Bell of Saranac
Lake, N. Y. He was the eldest son of
the late Maj. Henderson M. Bell and
Mrs. Anne POrterfield Bell. who prior
to her marriage was Miss Anne Por~
terfield Kinney, daughter of the late
VIM. Kinney, Esq, of Staunton.
Mr.. Bell, though never seeking Office, !,
long held the office of city councilman
and at the time of his death and for
many years previous, had been mem
Der of the city school board. He had
also for many years been a vestryman
of Trinity church.
The funeral services were held from
Trinity Episcopal church Wednesday
evening at o'clock, the Rev. Walter
Q. Hulllhen officiating. A large con-
course of relatives and friends were
present, and the many floral tributes
which were chaste and beautiful, tes-
titled of the esteem in which the de-
ceased was. held. The !. pail bearers
were: Active-M essrs. Chas. Catlett,
jacob ost, j. Fred Efhnger, H. M.
McIlhany, w. P. Gay and G. K Hoge.
Honorary-Messrs McH. Holiday,
Henry Hutchinson, Edward Echols,
W. ...Eskridge. L. ca. Elder, Lyman
Chalkley, Fl. w. Holt, VIC. Marshall,
W. A. Pratt, Francis H. Smith. E.
Lacy Gibson, Jas. Bumgardner. VIM.
Patrick and DR.. B. M. Atkinson.
MRS. DRUCILLA W. BLACKLEY.
Mrs. Drucilla W. Blackley, wife of
Mr.. John B. Blackley, died Saturday
night at her home on Winthrop street,
after about ten days illness from pa
ralysis. Deceased was born in Han
over county about So years ago, and
was daughter of the late Capt Clai-
borne r. Mason, the most of her life
has been spent in this part of the State,
Staunton being her home for the best
part of the time. Mrs. Blackley was
a woman of strong character, of lovely
Christian character and universally
esteemed. She is survived by her hus.
band, Mr.. John B. Blackley. three sis
tiers and two brothers-Mrs. Robert
foodu,;. oF Mrr Toho |