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Joe Bell trained in La Grande for his two-year, 5,000-mile walk across the United States to promote an anti-bullying program in remembrance of his son. Jadin Bell, a gay La Grande High School sophomore, died Feb. 3 from injuries suffered from a suicide attempt on Jan. 19. Jadin's family and friends believe that he was driven to suicide by bullying.
(Chris Baxter/The Observer)
A service will be held Thursday for Joe Bell, who was killed last week while walking across America to honor his son.
The memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. Thursday at
(the old Ackerman Gymnasium) on the Eastern Oregon University campus in La Grande, said Bud Hill, a family friend. Several friends and acquaintances will share memories of Bell, who was on a campaign to raise awareness about bullying. His son Jadin died in February at the age of 15 after committing suicide, partly over bullying, his family said.
The service will be open to the public. Hill expects a lot of people to attend. "I'm expecting people from Portland, from the Tri-Cities in Washington and Salt Lake City," he said.
Bell was hit by a truck driver while walking on the shoulder of U.S. 40 east of Colorado Springs, Colo. The driver, Kenneth Raven, 49, of Texas, was cited for careless driving.
Bell is survived by his long-time partner, Lola Lathrop; daughter, Amber Lynn Bell, 28 of Redding, Calif.; sons, Dustin Joseph Bell, 24, and Joseph Michael Bell, 14; father and stepmother, Robert and Bonnie Bell; and two sisters, Tina Marlene Bell and Bobbi Jo Thale, Hill said.
-- Lynne Terry