Obituary of Thomas Van Bell

Thomas C. Van Bell, 84, of Whiting, Manchester, passed away Tuesday, March 10, 2009 at Whiting Health Care Center in Manchester. Born in Jamaica, Long Island, NY, he lived in Matawan before moving to Whiting in 1974. Mr. Van Bell was a Chief Marine Engineer. He worked for the City of New York on the Staten Island Ferry for 33 years, retiring in 1984. Prior to that, he worked for Moore McCormack, New York. He was a graduate of the NY State Maritime Academy and was a Merchant Marine during World War II. He enjoyed fishing. He was a communicant of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Church, Whiting. He was predeceased by his wife of 55 years, Rita, in 2004. He is survived by one son and daughter-in-law, Craig and Ellen Van Bell of McKean, PA; one daughter, Susan Van Bell of Arlington, VA; one brother, Howard Van Bell of Florida and three grandchildren, Christopher and Kevin Van Bell and Thomas Lang. A Memorial Mass will be offered at 11 a.m., Friday in the All Saints Chapel of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Church, Whiting. Interment will follow at Brig. Gen. William C. Doyle Veterans Cemetery, Wrightstown. Arrangements are under the direction of Manchester Memorial Funeral Home, Whiting. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, P.O. Box 27106, New York, NY 10087-7106.