Alvis Milton Bell, longtime Texas Baptist pastor and supporter of the Royal Ambassadors missions program for boys, died June 20 in Houston. He was 94. Bell was born Oct. 23, 1926, in Hattiesburg, Miss., to Bert Oscar Bell and Thelma Vivian Roberts Bell. After he graduated from Hattiesburg High School, he joined the U.S. Navy, where he served as an aviation radioman second-class from 1944 to 1946. He attended Louisiana Tech University one year before he surrendered his life to preach the gospel. He went on to earn degrees from Baylor University and Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. On May 25, 1951, he married the love of his life, Evelyn Merritt. Bell was the pastor of the First Baptist churches of Turnersville, Mullen, Bellville, Missouri City and Needville, and Quail Valley Baptist Church in Missouri City. Texas Baptist Men inducted him into the Royal Ambassador Legion of Merit for his work with the missions program for more than 40 years. He was preceded in death by his wife of 66 years, Evelyn; daughter Carolyn Sue Bell; and sister Margaret Bell. He is survived by son Steve Bell and wife Donna of Magnolia; son Paul Bell and wife Sherri of Terrell; five grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; sister Janita Kelly of Shreveport, La.; and brother Robert Bell of Fredericksburg.
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