Lucy Justice Bell

Justice and died on February 13, 2021, at the age of 86. Lucy grew up in Mill Valley, California

where she completed high school and continued on to the University of California, Davis. At

Davis, Lucy earned her Bachelor's degree in Home Economics and while there, met Don Bell, at

a Cal Aggies Christian gathering. Soon after graduating, they married on September 2, 1956

and moved to Orange County, California.

Lucy began what became a lifelong career in Education, teaching high school Home Economics

in Costa Mesa. It wasn’t long before she found her true passion in Education to be Early

Childhood Development. In 1965, Don and Lucy and their, then, two small children moved to

Riverside. Lucy became the Director of the Calvary Presbyterian Church Preschool in 1969.

She developed the preschool program from a half day program with 40 children to a full day

program with 90 children. She recognized the growing need for families in Riverside to have

quality programs that would accommodate the changing schedules of working parents. For 25

years, Lucy directed the programs at the preschool, encouraging growth and learning through

play and active learning experiences. For over a decade, while working full time as the

preschool Director, she also taught early childhood development classes at night, at Riverside

Community College. She retired from the preschool in 1995. Only a few years into retirement,

Lucy went back to work part-time for Lovett’s Children as a Curriculum Coordinator before fully

retiring again.

Somehow in the midst of two professions and raising teenagers, she found the time to pursue a

lifelong dream to continue her education. Lucy completed her Masters Degree in Early

Childhood Education at the University of Redlands.

Lucy served throughout her career on many Community Boards in various roles. Some of which

included, the Arrowhead Association for the Education of Young Children (AAEYC), the

Riverside County Child Care Consortium and the PEO Sisterhood, Chapter HO.

Lucy has also been a dedicated member of the Riverside Calvary Presbyterian Church since

1966, shortly after moving to Riverside.

Lucy devoted her adult life to improving the lives of children in the Inland Empire. She was a

fierce advocate for the development of early childhood education through her involvement at the

preschool. Through her dedication to teaching our future teachers, she has touched the lives of

many children and started the careers of many early childhood educators in Riverside County.

A lifelong learner and avid reader, Lucy also enjoyed travelling with her husband throughout the

world and spending time with her grandson, Bryce. She was a dedicated mother to her two

children and devoted to creating traditions and family meals to remember.

Lucy was predeceased by her husband of 58 years, Donald and is survived by her two children

Warren of Yucaipa, CA and Sharon(Carel) Breytenbach of South Paris, Maine and by her

beloved grandson, Bryce Bell. Bryce could always bring that sparkle to his grandmother’s eye,

purely by his presence in her room. Her brother, Greg Justice, predeceased her.

Lucy will be remembered for her generous heart, her listening ear and her ever willingness to

encourage others. Over her life she has made an everlasting impact on the education of

children within our community and beyond.

Her celebration of life will be held on Saturday, February 27, 2021 at 11:00 AM, in the rear

parking lot of Calvary Presbyterian Church located at 4495 Magnolia Avenue, Riverside, CA. In

compliance with current Covid restrictions, guests will remain in their cars with masks. To

attend, you must RSVP to church@calvarypresch.com as space is limited. Burial at Riverside

National Cemetery will be private.

In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to the Lucy Bell Memorial Scholarship Fund. This

fund will support scholarships for early childhood professionals to attend the annual FSA Early

Childhood Conference. Please forward donations to:

Family Service Association

21250 Box Springs Road, Suite 112

Moreno Valley, CA 92557

Or www.FSACA.org and follow the prompts or call 951-779-9623.