Carol J. Bell completed her earthly journey on May 13, 2026. She transitioned to her eternal heavenly home in the same way she approached everything, with dignity and grace. 

Carol was loved by all who knew her. She made sure her family and friends always knew how deeply she cared for them.  She lived each day guided by three clear priorities: family, faith, and fun. 

Carol married Tom Bell on February 11, 1967, in Bluffton, Ohio. In 1969, they moved to Columbus, Ohio, and eventually settled in Westerville, where they built a beautiful life together. 

She is survived by her loving husband, Tom Bell; her children, Mindy (Tom) Westfall of Columbus, Ohio, and Eric  (Megan) Bell of Delaware, Ohio; her grandchildren, Evan (Averi) Westfall, Sam (Hanna) Westfall, Ali Bell, and Tom  Bell, all of the Columbus area; and her great-grandson, Sonny Thomas Westfall. 

Carol is also survived by her brothers, Greg (Christine) Steiner of Englewood, Florida, and Bob (Patsy) Steiner of Hobe  Sound, Florida. 

Carol was an active member of Central College Presbyterian Church for more than forty-three years. Through the church,  she became an ordained Stephen Minister, a calling she faithfully practiced through caring for others. As part of the church’s medical mission team, she traveled to Honduras to deliver healthcare and share the Gospel in rural communities.  She also devoted time to the Adopt-A-Child Christmas project, helping provide gifts to underprivileged children throughout Central Ohio. Carol served multiple terms as a deacon at CCPC, always leading with compassion and humility. 

Carol’s happiest moments were whenever family gathered together. She loved preparing meals with enough food for  everyone to take leftovers home. She was a devoted fan of Ohio State Buckeyes football. Whether in “The Shoe” or  cheering from the family room, she proudly wore scarlet and gray on game days. Victories were celebrated loudly, and  losses were met with her familiar refrain: “That should have never happened!” 

Carol also loved softball and once pitched for a Columbus women’s softball team. Her favorite movie was A League of  Their Own, and her favorite band was CAAMP. 

Carol was born in Bluffton, Ohio, on April 28, 1948, to Evan & Betty (Kohli) Steiner. She graduated from Bluffton High  School and attended Bluffton University. 

A life-altering event occurred on Palm Sunday, April 11, 1965, when a massive tornado struck Bluffton while Carol was babysitting her pastor’s three-year-old twin daughters. She awoke the girls and took them to the basement moments before the storm destroyed the home. The brick church across the road was also leveled, and several lives were lost in the surrounding area. Remarkably, Carol and the girls escaped without a single injury. 

Carol worked for twenty-two years as a dental assistant. At age forty-nine, she courageously changed careers and became a highly successful Realtor. Though the professions seemed very different, they shared one important similarity: Carol spent her life helping people, one person at a time. That was her mission. 

A celebration of Carol’s life will take place on Tuesday, June 16, 2026, from 1:30-3:30 pm at The Lakes Country Club.  Officiated by Mindy Quellhorst. Her final resting place will be at Maple Grove Cemetery, Bluffton, Ohio. 

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in memory of Carol Bell to 2^nd & 7 Tackling Illiteracy at  https://wl.donorperfect.net/weblink/WebLink.aspx?name=E347071&id=3

Carol’s legacy will live on in the lessons she shared so freely: put family first, be kind to one another, and always, always have fun.