Joshua Ingram Bell

Joshua Ingram Bell, 53, departed this earth on Monday, October 30, 2023, at his brother's Mohnton home. Born on August 1, 1970 on Sasebo Naval Base on Kyushu Island Japan, his international birth marked the beginning of a lifelong love of travel and cultural curiosity.

He was an artist with a distinctive style, creating a prolific body of work, including paintings, mixed media, and page-corner doodles, the last of which his sister will miss the most. He was a poet, a songwriter, and a skilled guitar player.

He spent most of the last decade living in West Reading, where he frequented the Reading Public Museum and often walked and biked the Wyomissing Park Trails. He was an avid birder, a pastime he shared with his mother.

His knowledge was encyclopedic; he was a tremendous asset to trivia teams and the person to call for tough crossword clues. He had a wry, quick wit and a ready laugh but could just as swiftly find compassionate words when you needed them.

He was kind and tenderhearted and felt compelled to help anybody he saw in need however he could. He was a thoughtful conversationalist who asked sincere questions.

He struggled with serious mental health and substance use disorders that made achieving the stability, relationships, and career success he wanted extremely challenging.

He achieved a Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy from Antioch College, a private liberal arts school, in 2001. While attending, he traveled the U.S. for work study and studied abroad internationally.

He was particularly proud of his lentil soup.

Joshua is survived by his parents, Linda M. Ingram of Douglassville, Stephen D. Bell and wife Elsie Bell of Wyomissing, and siblings, Matthew S. Bell of Mohnton, Andrew D. Bell of Memphis, TN, and Natalie Bell and husband Chazz Aden of West Reading.

His Memorial Service will be held on Monday, November 27, 2023, at 11 a.m. at Bethany Lutheran Church, 336 Franklin St. West Reading, PA 19611.

Memorial donations may be made to Josh's chosen charity, Heifer International, P.O. Box 8058, Little Rock, AR, 72203 or to Bethany Lutheran Church.

Edward J. Kuhn Funeral Home Inc, West Reading is managing arrangements. Condolences may be expressed at kuhnfuneralhomes.com.