COBDEN---Thelma (Kinnett) Bell, 97, died Friday, Feb. 25, 2011, in Anna Rehabilitation and Nursing Center.
She was born the daughter of Elmer Cook and Eliza Clinnie (Cooper) Kinnett on July 18, 1913, in Horseshoe Bottom, Ky., on a land that was once found at the upper reaches of the Cumberland River. After being flooded by TVA's Wolf Creek Dam, her home place now lies at the bottom and near the center of Lake Cumberland.
She was married Nov. 1, 1938, to Glen C. Bell, who preceded her in death Nov. 28, 1984.
Also preceding her in death were her parents; two brothers, John and Charlie; and four sisters, Alma, Margie, Elizabeth and Martha.
She is survived by sons, Larry (Donna) Bell of Cobden and Bruce (Jill) Bell of Anna. Also surviving are six grandchildren, Carla (David) Smith of Rochester, Kathy (Grant) Capel and Karen (Brad) White of Anna, Allison and Elizabeth Bell of Champaign, and Bradley Glen Bell of Carbondale; seven great-grandchildren, Laura (Luke) Fleischer of Carterville, Ethan and Jonathan Smith of Rochester, Lauren and Olivia Capel of Anna, Emily and Grace White of Anna; and great-greatgrandsons Ari and Finnegan Reed Fleischer.
She was an active member of Church of Christ until suffering a stroke in 2007. Before injuries from a recent fall made it necessary for her to receive medical care, her fierce spirit of independence allowed her to live alone until her final days.
Services will be at 2 p.m. today in Crain Funeral Home in Anna-Jonesboro. Burial will be beside her husband in the Alto Pass Cemetery.
Visitation will be from noon to 2 p.m. today at the funeral home.
