Robert Henry Bell

Robert Henry Bell:  Related to Alexander Graham Bell, the Inventor of the telephone.

I am Pamela Bell, Hul-Wiesenberg, Robert Henry Bell's daughter.  I am the Moderator, Owner, and Writer, of his biography.  

My father, Robert Henry Bell Jr, was born in Baltimore, Maryland, on 04/09/1903, to:  Robert Henry Bell Sr of Belfast, Ireland, and Jennifer Sebastian-Bell of Barcelona, Spain.  They had previously immigrated to the United States in the late 1800's.

They and my father, age 10, left the east coast, and moved to Fresno, California.  Robert Bell Sr owned a fishing trawler, docked in Monterey, California.

When young, my father and his parents lived on Raisina Street, in downtown Fresno, located in a grouping of old, historical homes, built about 1915, at the corner of Kings Canyon Road and R Street.  It is thought that my father helped build the Raisina family home.  In the 1960's, those homes were torn down, and replaced by new ones.

At a very young age. my father decided he wanted a career as a Radio Communications Technician.

My father attended the historical and vintage Fresno Technical School, located at:  O & Stanislaus Streets.  He graduated in 1921.

At age 20, he began work as a Radio Communications Technician for San Joaquin Light & Power Company, constructed in 1923; which later became PGE, Pacific Gas & Electric Company, of Fresno, California.  He was employed there from 1923-1960, 37 years.  He repaired radio and base stations for PGE, and had his own territory, which included:  Fresno, Chowchilla, Los Banos, Madera, Mariposa, Merced, and Oakhurst.  My father loved his career.

In his early 20's my father married Ruth Iverson of Fresno.  They had a beautiful daughter, Barbara Mae.  Sadly, they later divorced.

My father later met and married Lillian P.. Dillen, who had moved from Chicago to Fresno with her mother Lydia Dillen.  Lillian worked at Pacific Bell as a Telephone Operator and Supervisor.  My father, Lillian, and Barbara, lived in a new home he built at:  1815 Harrison Avenue, Harrison & McKinley Avenues.

When young. my father and his parents lived on Raisina Street in downtown Fresno, which was located in a grouping of old, historical homes, at the corner of Kings Canyon & R Streets.  In the 1960's, those homes were torn down, and replaced by new ones.  It is thoughr that my father might have helped build the Raisina family home..

At a very young age, my father decided he wanted a career as a Radio Communications Technician.

My father attended the historical and vintage, Fresno Technical School, built in 1896, located at:  O & Stanislaus Streets.  He graduated in 1921.

 At age 20, he went to work as a Radio Communications Technician for San Joaquin Light & Power Company, constructed in 1923; which later became PGE/Pacific Gas & Electric Company Of California.  He was employed there, from 1922-1960, 37 years.  He worked on radio and base stations, and had his own territory; which included:  Fresno, Chowchilla, Los Banos, Madera, Merced, Mariposa, and Oakhurst.  My father loved his career.

In his early 20's, my father married Ruth Iverson of Fresno.  They had a beautiful daughter named Barbara Mae.  Sadly, they later divorced.

My father then met and married Lillian P. Dillen, who was originally from Chicago; and had moved to Fresno with her mother, Lydia Dillen.  Lillian worked at Pacific Bell as a Telephone Operator and Supervisor.  My father and Lillian lived in a new home he built, at:  1815 N.Harrison Avenue, Fresno.

In 1942, my father joined the United States Navy, and served two Tours Of Duty in WWII, assisting in Radio Communications.  After the War, he returned to his career and his home on Harriso

My father then built another new home at:  1474 N. Fruit Avenue, Fruit & McKinley.Avenues, where I was adopted and raised.

My biological parents were known to them.  When I was age 3, in 03/1954, Lillian passed away from Cancer.

My father then later married Irene Nilmeier-Lashley of Sanger, California.  Irene had a beautiful daughter named Loretta; from a previous marriage.  Irene and my father continued raising me.

In addition to Radio Communications, my father held a Real Estate License, and was skilled at construction.  He built seven homes in Fresno.  At age 12, he had helped build the Bell Home on Raisina; and later, went on to build homes on Callisch, Roosevelt, Harrison, and Fruit.  It is believed that he also built two homes on Fillmore. My father and his friends also helped build Radio Park at:  Clinton & Fresno Streets.  

My father was a skilled outdoorsman and swimmer, who loved camping, canoeing, and white water rafting.

In 1957, my father was not feeling well, and was diagnosed with Cancer.  He passed away on 07/28/1960.

My father was fun to be with, and had many friends in Fresno.  He was very decent and religious-- kind, with a heart.  He frequently helped people.

I miss him very much.