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Dorothy Rose Topping Bell

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Dorothy Rose Topping Bell

Birth	:	8 Nov 1927 Birmingham, Van Buren County, Iowa, USA
Death	:	22 Sep 2017 Keosauqua, Van Buren County, Iowa, USA
Burial	:	Maple Hill Cemetery, Birmingham, Van Buren County, USA
Coordinate	:	40.8778020, -91.9354496
Inscription	:	Parents of Martha, David and Scott Married 8-27-1948
Description	:	Dorothy Rose Bell age 89, formerly of Fairfield, passed away September 22, 2017 at Keosauqua health Center in Keosauqua. Visitation for Family and friends will be from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. Tuesday September 26, 2017 at Behner Funeral Home. Funeral services will 10:00 a.m. Wednesday September 27, 2017 at the First Presbyterian Church with Pastor Joseph Phipps officiating. Burial will be at Maple Hill Cemetery, in Birmingham. Dorothy was born in Birmingham, Iowa, the daughter of Clement O. and Emma E. (Nelson) Topping. She graduated as valedictorian from Stockport High School and attended Parsons College,... Read More	Dorothy Rose Bell age 89, formerly of Fairfield, passed away September 22, 2017 at Keosauqua health Center in Keosauqua. Visitation for Family and friends will be from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. Tuesday September 26, 2017 at Behner Funeral Home. Funeral services will 10:00 a.m. Wednesday September 27, 2017 at the First Presbyterian Church with Pastor Joseph Phipps officiating. Burial will be at Maple Hill Cemetery, in Birmingham. Dorothy was born in Birmingham, Iowa, the daughter of Clement O. and Emma E. (Nelson) Topping. She graduated as valedictorian from Stockport High School and attended Parsons College, where she majored in English and was involved in campus and sorority activities. While at Parsons, she met returning veteran and fellow student Jay Q. Bell; they married in 1948 after she graduated. Dorothy and Jay then lived in Ames while Jay studied at the College of Veterinary Medicine at Iowa State University. After his graduation, the couple spent two years in South Dakota and then returned to Fairfield where Jay started a veterinary practice. Dorothy became active in the First Presbyterian Church and shared her time and talents in many roles. She was a Sunday school teacher, editor of the church newsletter, served on the wedding committee, was active in Church Circle and was a deacon. She was recognized by the Association of Presbyterian Women with an honorary life membership for her dedication. After Jay's death in 1982, Dorothy devoted her energies to fostering the arts in Fairfield and to her garden. She was a dedicated planner, promoter and attendee of local and regional art exhibits, concerts, recital and plays. Her passion developed into long memberships in many arts organizations. Dorothy served on the Board of the Southeast Iowa Symphony Orchestra starting in 1965 and formany years after. In 1985 she was named an Honorary Life board member. In 1979, Dorothy was elected to the board of the Fairfield Concert Association. She served for 33 years, 21 as board secretary. When the Fairfield Art Association was founded in 1966, Dorothy was a charter member. She served as both secretary and newsletter editor of the Association for many years. In 1988 she founded the Fairfield Garden Tour, combining her love of gardening and art to create a fundraiser for the Art Association. In 2011, the tour was renamed "The Dorothy Bell Garden Tour" in her honor. Dorothy was named a Citizen of the Year in 1999 by the Fairfield Area Chamber of Commerce. She was the first recipient of the Fairfield Art Association's Outstanding Fine Arts Promoter Award in 1994-1995 and was honored with a Maharishi Award in 2000 for enhancing the quality of individual and community life in Fairfield. In 2013 she was elected to the Parsons College Wall of Honor at the Fairfield Civic Center. Until she moved out of her home on Iowa Avenue, those who didn't know Dorothy personally referred to her as the "Tulip Lady". Dorothy planted thousands of tulip bulbs in her back yard along Fillmore Avenue and each spring her garden would explode with color. As much as she enjoyed promoting art, she also enjoyed creating it and sharing it with others. She loved it when people would tell her that walking or driving by her beautiful yard brought them joy. In addition to her love of the arts and gardening, Dorothy also enjoyed spending time sailing and dining out with her devoted friends Bob Glocke and Bob Tree, and with her bridge club friends that played cards together for over 50 years. Dorothy is survived by her sister, Charlotte Olsen, and her four children, Sue Bell, Martha Bell, David Bell and Scott Bell, her sons-in-law James Hulbert and Larry Allen, and daughter-in-law Mary Bell. She is survived by two grandchildren, Kat Bell and Jay Bell and through Rotary International's student exchange program, also has many international grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, and son-in-law Orvil Reeser. This fall, plant a few tulip bulbs in your yard in her honor, since, as Dorothy often said, "it is easier to get through winter knowing what is waiting for spring under the snow".

frequently asked questions (FAQ):

Where is Dorothy Rose Topping Bell's memorial?
Dorothy Rose Topping Bell's memorial is located at: Maple Hill Cemetery, Birmingham, Van Buren County, USA.
When did Dorothy Rose Topping Bell death?
Dorothy Rose Topping Bell death on 22 Sep 2017 in Keosauqua, Van Buren County, Iowa, USA
Where are the coordinates of the Dorothy Rose Topping Bell's memorial?
Latitude: 40.8778020
Longitude: -91.9354496

Family Members:

Parent

Clement O “Clem” Topping

(1897 - 1991)

Emma Emelia Nelson Topping

(1893 - 1988)

Spouse

Dr Jay Quentin Bell

(1921 - 1982)

Flowers:

Nearby Cemetories:

1. Maple Hill Cemetery
Birmingham, Van Buren County, USA
Coordinate: 40.8778020, -91.9354496

2. Methodist Episcopal Cemetery
Birmingham, Van Buren County, USA
Coordinate: 40.8788000, -91.9427000

3. United Presbyterian Cemetery
Birmingham, Van Buren County, USA
Coordinate: 40.8796000, -91.9438000

4. Parkerville Cemetery
Birmingham, Van Buren County, USA
Coordinate: 40.8666920, -91.9001710

5. Smith Cemetery
Birmingham, Van Buren County, USA
Coordinate: 40.8807983, -91.8964005

6. Clinkinbeard Family Cemetery
Libertyville, Jefferson County, USA
Coordinate: 40.9083300, -91.9583300

7. Winchester Cemetery
Winchester, Van Buren County, USA
Coordinate: 40.8499985, -91.9047012

8. Topping Cemetery
Stockport, Van Buren County, USA
Coordinate: 40.8500000, -91.8879670

9. Thompson Cemetery
Jefferson County, USA
Coordinate: 40.9155998, -91.9772034

10. Bethel Cemetery
Birmingham, Van Buren County, USA
Coordinate: 40.8967018, -92.0056000

11. Cumberland Cemetery
Jefferson County, USA
Coordinate: 40.9248000, -91.9903000

12. Pattison Cemetery
Fairfield, Jefferson County, USA
Coordinate: 40.9444008, -91.9049988

13. Fordyce Cemetery
Stockport, Van Buren County, USA
Coordinate: 40.8388000, -91.8556000

14. White Chapel Cemetery
Birmingham, Van Buren County, USA
Coordinate: 40.8417015, -92.0203018

15. Wiley Pioneer Cemetery
Jefferson County, USA
Coordinate: 40.9087000, -91.8457000

16. Kilbourne Cemetery
Van Buren County, USA
Coordinate: 40.8045000, -91.9705000

17. Jefferson County Poor Farm Cemetery
Libertyville, Jefferson County, USA
Coordinate: 40.9416900, -91.9996200

18. Miller Chapel Cemetery
Mount Zion, Van Buren County, USA
Coordinate: 40.8045000, -91.8905000

19. Roth Cemetery
Fairfield, Jefferson County, USA
Coordinate: 40.9589005, -91.9574966

20. Wilson Family Cemetery
Van Buren County, USA
Coordinate: 40.7951500, -91.9681000

21. Wright Cemetery
Fairfield, Jefferson County, USA
Coordinate: 40.9524000, -91.8728000

22. Gilbert Cemetery
Kilbourn, Van Buren County, USA
Coordinate: 40.7916926, -91.9779510

23. Rogers Cemetery
Mount Zion, Van Buren County, USA
Coordinate: 40.7916800, -91.8890600

24. Trumbo Cemetery
Stockport, Van Buren County, USA
Coordinate: 40.8166943, -91.8418354