David Bishop Bell

David Bishop Bell died peacefully, surrounded by family on November 7, 2019. He was born April 11, 1939, in Boise Idaho, the second son of Walter G. and Georgia P. Bell. The family moved to Portland in 1942.

He attended Alameda Grade School, Grant High School and Oregon State University, graduating with Honors with a B.S. from the School of Pharmacy in 1962. After working as a pharmacist for 1 year, he enrolled at the University of Colorado Medical Center in Denver, receiving a Ph.D. in pharmacology in 1967 and an M.D. degree Magna Cum Laude in 1969. He completed his residency in pediatrics at the University of Washington/Seattle Children’s Hospital in 1972. He was the recipient of many honors and scholarships.

Dr. Bell then served as major in the U.S. Army Medical Corps at Fort Knox, Kentucky from 1972 to 1974 working as a pediatrician at Ireland Army Hospital.

He returned to Portland in 1974 and entered pediatric practice at the Metropolitan Clinic. He practiced pediatrics continuously with that organization and its successors for over 35 years. He served as Chairman of the Pediatric Department of Emanuel Hospital for 5 years from 1977 to 1982. He was an Associate Clinical Professor of Pediatrics at Oregon Health and Sciences University. After he retired from Metropolitan Pediatrics, he worked at Portland Pediatric Urgent Care until his final retirement in December 2016.

In high school, he received varsity letters in football and track and was active in the choral department singing in the choir and its related ensembles. He was an Eagle Scout.

He was active in his church, Rose City Park Presbyterian Church, his entire life in Portland. He was active in the youth programs and was ordained a Deacon in 1963 and an Elder in 1966. He sang in the Chancel Choir during his High School years and as an adult from 1987-2018.

In 1961, he married the former Lorna Dee MacKinnon of Juneau, Alaska. Together, they had three children. She died in 1986.

In 1998, he married Efrosinia P. Longworth, acquiring 5 adult step-children in the process. Together they adopted two school-age children from Russia.

Dr. Bell is survived by his wife, Efrosinia Bell; children, David A. Bell, Diana L. Gage, Malcolm B. Bell, Yana M. Bell and Vladilena N. Bell; 2 granddaughters; 5 step-children; 6 step-grandchildren; and brother, Walter E. Bell of Brunswick, Maryland.

There will be a visitation at Ross Hollywood Chapel on Thursday, November 14, 2:00-5:00pm. The memorial service will be at Rose City Park Presbyterian Church on Saturday, November 16, at 2:00pm. There will be an earlier graveside service for family.

In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation in memory of Dave to Rose City Park Presbyterian Church.