Sergeant Charles Elroy Stell
U. S. Army Air Forces

June 14, 1914 - December 28, 1944

Ft. Sam Houston Military Cemetery
San Antonio, Texas

Gold Star Mother Geneva Hess Stell

Find A Grave Memorial

Charles Elroy Stell (June 14, 1914* - December 28, 1944) was born to James Cleveland Stell (November 10, 1887 - September 4, 1966) and Geneva (Hess) Stell (January 1, 1887 - May 23, 1977] at Bloomington, Victoria County, Texas. He graduated from El Campo High School in 1932 and moved to Bay City the same year. On September 16, 1938 he married Dorris Angela (Neal) Seerden in Bay City. He joined the military on October 1, 1942. Prior to going into the military he was employed at the Alaskan Food Market in Bay City and was a member of the First Baptist Church and the Woodmen of the World. After his basic training he was assigned to the Army Air Forces and was sent to England where he was attached to the 68th Squadron, 44lh Bomb Group (the Flying Eight-balls), 8th Air Force at Shipdham. Approximately two months later on December 28, 1944, as a crew member on a B-24 Liberator (Lili Marlene) he was killed when the plane crashed and exploded. Reports state that the aircraft had to turn back from the mission to Kaiserslautern, Germany because of engine trouble. As the plane approached the field with #2 engine out, it was seen to lower to about 500 feet on approach. It missed the runway and then began a right turn, when it stalled out and crashed. One bomb exploded, demolishing the plane and killing the entire crew (10 crew members). Sgt. Stell was the assistant radio operator on the plane. In 1948 his remains were repatriated to the United States and were interred at the Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery, San Antonio. Texas. He was survived by his wife Dorris Angela, his parents, two brothers. James and Travis and one sister. Nellie.

*Birth Certificate gives date of birth as 5 June 1916
 

KILLED OVER ENGLAND

Sgt. Charles E. Stell, of Bay City, was reported killed over England, December 28th, according to a short wire received by his wife and parents here in the city Saturday. There are no details given, but possibly a letter will follow.

Sgt. Stell was thirty years old and had been in the service since October 1, 1942. Prior to his entry into the armed services he was employed at the Alaskan Market. He was a graduate of the El Campo schools.

He is survived by his wife of Bay City, his mother and father, Mr. and Mrs. J. C. Stell, two brothers, James E. of Muskogee and Travis of Ellington Field; one sister, Nell, of Washington.

The Daily Tribune, Monday, January 15, 1945
 

MEMORIAL SERVICE AT BAPTIST CHURCH SGT. CHARLES STELL

A memorial service for Sgt. Charles E. Stell will be held at the First Baptist Church, Sunday afternoon, February 11, at 3 o'clock.

Sgt. Stell was born in Bloomington, Texas, on June 5, 1914. He graduated from the El Campo High School in 1932, and moved to Bay City the same year. On September 25, 1938, he was married to Miss Doris Seerden. He entered the service of his country on October 1, 1942. In the Air Corps, he served on a B-24 bomber, losing his life on December 28, 1944 after approximately two months overseas.

He is survived by his wife, Mrs. Doris Stell, his parents, Mr. and Mrs. J. C. Stell, two brothers, Corporal Travis Stell of Houston, and James Stell of Muskogee, Oklahoma; one sister, Miss Nell Stell of Washington, D.  C., many other relatives and a host of friends.

Sgt. Stell was formerly employed by the Alaskan Food Market in Bay City, and was a member of the First Baptist Church. Rev. James T. Draper, pastor of the church, will direct the Memorial Service Sunday afternoon. The public is invited, of course, to attend the service.

The Daily Tribune, February 8, 1945
 

REBURIAL RITES WILL BE HELD FOR SGT. STELL

Military rites for Sgt. Chas. E. Stell, age 30, of Bay City, will be held August 5 at the Ft. Sam Houston National Cemetery at San Antonio, Texas at 1:30 p.m.

Sgt. Stell enlisted in the United States Army Air Force in September 1942 at Bay City and went over seas in 1944 where he was stationed near Cambridge. He was a radio operator on a B-24 in the Eighth Air Force. While on active duty, December 26, 1944 he met his death when his plane crashed.

Sgt. Charles Stell was a member of the W.O.W. lodge and of the First Baptist Church of Bay City.

He is survived by his wife, Mrs. Elton Liggett of Cuero, his parents, Mr. and Mrs. J. C. Stell of Edna, two brothers, James of Hearne, and Travis of Edna, and one sister, Mrs. G. R. Frazier of Charleston, Illinois.    
                                                  
The Daily Tribune, July 29, 1948.
 

MILITARY RITES WILL BE HELD FOR CHARLES STELL

Military rites will be held August 5 at 1:30 p.m. at the Ft. Sam Houston Military Cemetery in San Antonio, for the late Sergeant Charles E. Stell, 30, of Bay City.

Sergeant Stell enlisted in the Army Air Force in September, 1942, and was sent overseas in 1944 and stationed near Cambridge England, as a radio operator on a B-34 of the 8th Air Force. He lost his life on active duty, December 26, 1944, in a plane crash.

He is survived by his parents, Mr. and Mrs. J. C. Stell of Edna; two brothers, James of Hearne, Texas, and Travis of Edna, Texas, and one sister, Mrs. G. R. Frazier of Charleston, Ill., and his wife, Doris, whose name now is Mrs. Elton Leggett of Cuero.

Sergeant Stell was a member of the First Baptist Church of Bay City and a member of W. O. W. Lodge No. 168 of Bay City.                                     

Matagorda County Tribune, July 29, 1948

Photo courtesy of
Find A Grave volunteer CynC
#47115106

Rites Held For Mrs. Stell, 90

Mrs. Geneva Hess Stell, 90, a resident of Jackson County since 1947, died May 23, 1977 in the local rest home.

Funeral services were held May 25 at 2:30 p.m. in the First Baptist Church with the Reverend Joe Webb officiating. Interment was in Memory Gardens of Edna, Pallbearers were John Stell, David Stell, Robert Frazier, Jim Lee Stell, Harley Stell and Charles Koenig.

Mrs. Stell was born January 1, 1887 in Nira, Iowa. She was a member of the First Baptist Church.

Survivors are a daughter, Mrs. George R. Frazier; a son, Travis Stell, Bay City; one sister, Mrs. Jessie Walker of Bishop; five grandchildren and nine great grandchildren.

Edna Herald, May 26, 1977
 

Funeral Services Held For James Cleveland Stell

Funeral services were held for James Cleveland Stell, 78, at 2 p.m. Monday, Sept. 5 at First Baptist Church of Edna with Rev. Joe Webb, pastor of First Baptist Church, Edna and Rev. Bill Baker, pastor of First Baptist Church, Bay City, officiating. Interment was in Edna cemetery under the direction of Hutzler Funeral Home.

Mr. Stell was born in Terryville, Texas, Nov. 10, 1887. He was a former railroad employee and then later a bookkeeper until the time of his death at 2:30 a.m. Sunday, Sept. 4. Mr. Stell served as a deacon of First Baptist Church here and prior to the time he moved to Edna he served as a deacon of First Baptist Church in Bay City.

Survivors include his wife, Mrs. Geneva Hess Stell of Edna; two sons, James E. Stell of Lubbock and Travis E. Stell of Bay City; one daughter, Mrs. George Frazier of Edna; one brother, L. T. Stell of Houston; three sisters, Mrs. Marie Hayes of Edna, Mrs. Eula Lewis of Houston Mrs. Eric Whitfield of Anderson; five grandchildren and one great grandchild. Mr. Stell was preceded in death by one son, Charles E. Stell, who was killed during World War II and one son and two daughters who died in infancy.

Serving as pallbearers were Joe Bonnot, Bob Nusom, J. N. Wade, Jr., Ray Dorsey, Larkin Thedford and Grant Crolley. Honorary pallbearers were Harold Bonnot, Wayne Miller, J. V. Fella, J. P. Davis, Ethelmore Wilson, Judge Cobb, B. J. Taylor and Audrey Dunham.

Edna Herald, September 8, 1966
 

Doris Angelia Leggett

Funeral services for Doris Angelia Leggett, 75, of Wadsworth will be held 4 p. m. Wednesday at Freund Funeral Home, Cuero. Burial will be in Hillside Cemetery, Cuero.

A rosary service will be held 8 p. m. Tuesday at Taylor Brothers Funeral Home.

Mrs. Leggett was born Oct. 1, 1913, in Louisiana and died 11:15 a. m. May 15, 1989, at Matagorda General Hospital, Bay City.

A resident of Wadsworth since 1952, she was a member of Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Wadsworth.

She is survived by her husband, Elton Leggett of Wadsworth.

Arrangements are with Taylor Brothers Funeral Home, Bay City.

The Daily Tribune, May 16, 1989
 

Copyright 2006 - Present by Carol Sue Gibbs
All rights reserved

HOME