Ernest "Ernie" Levert Bell

Ernest “Ernie” Levert Bell, husband of the late Maryann “Mary” Laboy, died peacefully on Tuesday, January 30, 2018 in Indianapolis at the age of 96.

Ernie was born on September 3, 1921, in Knightsville, Indiana, to Bert Bell and Amy (Kunkel) Bell. He graduated from Van Buren High School in 1939. While attending airplane mechanic training in New York City in 1942 he met his lifelong sweetheart Mary at a concert in Central Park. After serving in the Army Air Force in the Philippines and Japan during WWII, Ernie returned to the States and made Mary his bride. He brought her back to Indiana with him and found work as a bricklayer for J. M. Cutshall & Son, continuing to lay brick well into his 80s.

Not someone content to sit inside, Ernie was an avid fisherman and gardener. He loved singing, playing his guitar, and laughing heartily—often at his own jokes. He always said “mama” when he burped, much to the delight of his grandkids and great-grandkids.

Surviving family members include daughter Lydia A. Dalton (Steven), granddaughter Kristi Rolingher (Shawn), grandsons Brett Dalton (Hope) and Corey Dalton, granddaughter Jaclyn de Koff (Jason), step-great-grandson Tanner Brown, great-granddaughters Tegan and Maizie, great-grandsons Jacob and Julian, brother Albert Bell (Georgeanna), sister-in-law Florence (Laboy) Holender, daughter-in-law Carol (Forsyth) Bell, and granddaughter-in-law Suma Raju.

In addition to Mary, his son Jeffrey A. Bell and his grandson Jeffrey Shan Bell preceded him in death.

Visitation for friends and family will be held at Moore Funeral Home, Brazil, on Saturday, February 3, beginning at 4 p.m. with funeral services officiated by Pastor Rick Wetnight to follow at 7 p.m.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Terre Haute Light House Mission (thlhm.org).