Frank Hopkins Bell

St. George, Utah—Frank Hopkins Bell, 82, passed away in July 2024. Frank was born in 1941 to the late Mary Carter Hopkins Bell (Hunt) and Naval Captain Dr. Luther George Bell in Norfolk, Virginia. He was an identical twin with George Carter Bell. In 1965, Frank married his spouse of 50 years Carolle Sue Allison, LCSW PhD. 

During his early childhood and school years, Frank was a self-described “Navy Brat” who moved over fourteen times due to his father’s career as a Navy surgeon. From an early age Frank was academically oriented and showed an interest in engineering. At thirteen years old he won first prize in the 1954 Ford Motor Company’s Industrial Arts Award for mechanical drawing. 

Frank attended the University of Virginia and later transferred to Baylor where he earned a B.A. in History and English as well as a B.S. in mechanical engineering. While attending Baylor, Frank met his future spouse Carolle. The couple married in 1965 and attended the University of Texas in Austin for their graduate studies. He earned a master's degree in mechanical engineering in 1968 and went to work for General Dynamics after graduation. 

In 1972 the couple moved to Brigham City Utah, when Frank accepted a position with the Thiokol Corporation. It was during this time the couple had their first child Scott. Their second child Evan was born in 1976. Towards the end of the decade, the Bell family moved to Logan, Utah allowing Carolle the opportunity to teach and pursue a PhD in Child Development at Utah State University. In 1985, the family moved again to Layton, Utah, and Frank began working for TRW Systems at Hill AFB. 

During his career Frank registered many patents with the US Patent and TradeMark Office. He worked on multiple US military Defense projects, including the MX Peacekeeper program in the 1980s where his specialty was solid rocket propulsion. 

Frank retired in 2002 when he and Carolle moved to the neighborhood of Kayenta in Ivins, Utah. Frank and Carolle were drawn to the desert by their shared appreciation of the scenery, art and culture of the southwest. In 2012, Frank became a grandfather for the first time to fraternal twins Rowan and Keir, then for a second time in 2013 with another grandchild named Asher. Frank always had a sparkle in his eye explaining how he was a twin and he had twin grandchildren. All of his grandchildren knew him as “Farfar”. 

Frank was a hope filled romantic, who had an analytical mind and impressive memory. His ability to recall anything that he read combined with his sense of humor and intellect made Frank an excellent conversationalist, a ringer at Trivial Pursuit, and a dinner-time history and science teacher. These conversations are cherished memories for his family and friends.

Frank loved to travel the world with friends and family. His hobbies included listening to AM radio, reading voraciously, making specialty ammunitions, and doing genealogy research. Frank was an avid sportsman, African game hunter, and UFO enthusiast. 

Frank was preceded in death by Carolle (2016) and brother George (2022). He is survived by Scott, Shannon, and Asher Bell from Salt Lake City, Utah and; Evan, Mandee, Rowan, and Keir Bell from Portland, Oregon.

Arrangements are made under the direction of Spilsbury Mortuary. Family and friends are invited to sign the digital register book and share memories at SpilsburyMortuary.com.