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Ethelyn Adelaide Knutti Bell

Ethelyn Adelaide Knutti Bell, a resident of Valley Bend, passed away peacefully at her home Friday, April 6, 2018, with family members at her bedside. She had been in declining health for some time and was under the care of Mountain Hospice.

Ethelyn was born Sunday, Nov. 13, 1932, in Elkins, a daughter of John and Adelaide Fullmer Knutti.

She attended elementary school in Bowden and graduated from Elkins High School. Following graduation, Ethelyn worked at the Bowden Elementary School as a cook until her marriage.

She married Howard Bell June 16, 1952, in Bowden. They enjoyed almost 60 years of marriage until his death on April 4, 2012. Also preceding her in death were her parents; one infant daughter, Jean Louise; and son-in-law, Charles “Chuck” Martin.

Left to cherish her memory are sons, John and Charles H. Bell; and daughter, Benita Bell Martin Boley; grandchildren Frank Martin, Lindsay Stalnaker, Andrea Smith and husband Matt, Brittany Cave and husband Josh and Clay Bell; great-grandchildren, Anthony Morton, Gage Martin and wife Caitlyn, Preston, Arianna and Nathaniel Smith, Austin Corley, Kylie and Makenzie Cave; and great-great-granddaughters, Breezie Martin and Emma Morton. She is also survived by four brothers, John Knutti Jr. and wife Peggy, Reginald Knutti, Fred Knutti, Emil Knutti and wife Melanie; two sisters, Joyce Knutti Sperow and Elizabeth Knutti Swecker; and several nieces and nephews.

She was dearly loved by her family and was affectionately called “Sis” by her siblings.

She and her husband built the Dairy King in Valley Bend, now known as C & J’s Restaurant, and Ethelyn operated that for many years. She was known for having the best chili hotdogs in the Valley, famously selling seven hotdogs for a dollar. They also ran a flea market close by.

After selling the restaurant, she and her husband enjoyed traveling and then established the Bell’s Camp Ground on Bell Crouch Road. The campers and community enjoyed playing ball on the ball fields, swimming, and the bands and other entertainment provided by the Bells under their pavilion.

For many years, Ethelyn was a member and officer in various tourism organizations throughout the Potomac Highlands of West Virginia. She also served as president of the Valley Water Company, which supplied water to the Dailey and Valley Bend areas.

She and her husband were members of the Valley Bend United Methodist Church where they attended many years.

Visitation will be held at the Randolph Funeral Home Thursday from 6 to 8 p.m. A funeral service will be conducted in the funeral home Friday, April 13, 2018, at 11 a.m. Interment will follow in Brick Church Cemetery in Huttonsville. The family suggests that memorial contributions be made in Ethelyn’s memory to the Parkinson’s Foundation, 200 SE First St. #800, Miami, FL 33131 or online http://parkinson.org/ways-to-give The Randolph Funeral Home has been entrusted with the arrangements for Ethelyn A. Bell.

Send online condolences to the family at www.therandolphfuneralhome.com.