Dr. Carl Henry Bell Jr. of Hermitage passed away peacefully with his wife by his side at 6 a.m. Friday morning, Feb. 14, 2014, in his home after a courageous battle with cancer. He was 64. Dr. Bell was born April 20, 1949, in Sharon, the oldest of four sons to Carl Henry Bell Sr. and Marjorie Axe Bell. He was a lifelong area resident and a 1967 graduate of Hickory High School, Hermitage, where he was a standout golfer and basketball player. Carl was a three-year letterman in golf for Hickory and qualified for the PIAA state golf championship in Hershey his senior year. He was also a two-year letterman for the basketball team as a point guard and led the Hornets to a District 10 championship his senior year. He matriculated to Westminster College, New Wilmington, where he was a member of the golf and basketball teams for three years and a member of the 1968 and 1969 WPIAC championship golf teams. He was the medalist at the 1968 WPIAC golf championship as a freshman. Having known that he wanted to be a dentist since high school, Carl excelled in academics and was accepted into the University of Pittsburgh's School of Dentistry after only three years at Westminster. He graduated from dental school in 1974 and married the former Marlyn Phinney on Nov. 30 of that year in St. Lawrence O'Toole Church, Pittsburgh. Dr. Bell had a private dental practice in Mercer for 39 years and was a member of the American, Pennsylvania and Mercer County dental associations. He donated his dental practice to local veterans prior to their deployment, a service he valued very much. Carl continued to golf throughout the years and was a member, along with his father, of Hickory VFW Golf League. He was also a member of Avalon Golf and Country Club and the former Sharon Country Club. He and his brothers were two-time winners of the annual Hermitage Business and Industry Golf Scramble at Tam O'Shanter Golf Course. The "Bell Brothers" also enjoyed going to the family hunting camp in Allegheny Forest, a tradition their father started in 1949. Carl took up tennis after college and enjoyed playing several matches with his wife. One of their highlights was qualifying for the prestigious Lipton Mix doubles tennis tournament in Erie. He served as a coach of Hickory Little League and for the former Notre Dame Parochial Grade School basketball team. He was inducted into Mercer County Hall of Fame in 2010. Dr. Bell was a member of Church of Notre Dame, Hermitage. Surviving is his loving family: his wife, Marlyn Bell, at home; two sons, Brian C. Bell and his wife Jennifer, Hermitage; and Brad N. Bell, Oahu, Hawaii; three brothers, Dan Bell and his wife Eleanor, Sharon; Bill Bell, Hermitage, and his fiancée Cindy White, Transfer; and Tom Bell and his wife Debra, Keller, Texas; a brotherin- law, Jack Phinney and his wife Regina, Delmont, Pa.; several nieces and nephews; and his special canine buddy, Cody. Dr. Bell was preceded in death by his parents and his mother- and father-in-law, Virginia and Carl Phinney. The family suggests memorial contributions be made to American Cancer Society, 3208 B Wilmington Road, Box 5037, New Castle, PA 16105; or Sharon Regional Hospice and Palliative Care, 2320 Highland Road, Hermitage, PA 16148. Calling hours: 4 to 7 p.m. Sunday (2-16-14) in J. BRADLEY McGONIGLE FUNERAL HOME and CREMATORY Inc., 1090 E. State St., Sharon. Service: Mass of Christian burial at 11 a.m. Monday (2-17-14) in Church of Notre Dame, Hermitage, with Monsignor Edward J. Zeitler, senior associate, as celebrant. Everyone is asked to go directly to the church. Interment: Hillcrest Memorial Park, Hermitage.