Charles Allen Bell

Charles Allen Bell—visionary, eternal optimist, instigator, clown, great friend, lover, good being, all human—departed us for his next adventure on April 28, 2025; he was 69 years old.

Born on May 30, 1955 in Frankfurt, Germany to Robert H. Bell Sr. and Eveline Bell, Charlie was the product of a U.S. Army Sgt. and his Austrian war bride. He lived his early years in Germany, moving to El Paso, TX as a young boy. After an early graduation from Irvin High School, he moved to Alpine, TX in 1973 to pursue an Art Degree at Sul Ross State University. Charlie received his Masters of Education in Art from SRSU in 1982.

Throughout his career he inspired countless young artists in the Big Bend area, as well as across the state. In addition to his Alpine-based private children’s art lessons, he instructed at SRSU, Alpine Christian School, residencies at the Chinati Foundation in Marfa, along with many other places over the course of four-plus decades. He was accepted into the Texas Commission on the Arts-Artist in Education Program in 1992 where he did residencies across the state of Texas until 2002, teaching in schools that did not offer art education to their students.

He had numerous galleries throughout the years, hosting a multitude of creative, innovative one-man and group art shows. He was a masterful sign painter, with his work evident on various billboards, businesses, and murals throughout West Texas.

One of Charlie’s other greatest passions was his music. He was a skilled bass and guitar player, as well as a gifted singer/songwriter. Cultivating and performing in a plethora of bands from 1973 on, he collaborated with a variety of musicians to provide countless hours of camaraderie, entertainment, and fun for all.

In addition to his art and music, he had a brief, but all consuming, stint as a filmmaker. Alongside dozens of willing friends and participants from the area, he created the award-winning Karl Glocke mockumentary film series during the years of 2003-2006. His unique sense of humor and quick wit fueled and spearheaded the project.

Despite all of his creative endeavors, Charlie’s proudest accomplishment was his family. He shared fifty beautiful years with his loving wife Susie, while being an amazing father to their children Jesse and Alyssa, as well as a fun Opa to their grandchildren, Evi Grace and Graham.

Charlie leaves behind to cherish his memory his wife Susan, his son Jesse (wife Kaya), his daughter Alyssa (partner Jesse Berkowitz), grandchildren Evi Grace and Graham, brothers Bob Bell (Melleta), David Bell (Jacqueline), sister-in-laws Judy Kotzur (Tommy), Missy Mial (Bob), and Cindi Mercado, and numerous nephews and nieces. He was preceded in death by his parents Robert H. Bell Sr. and Eveline Bell, his beloved Oma, Anna Kaufmann, his mother-in-law Antoinette Schultze and brother-in-law Bill Mercado, as well as many beloved friends.

Charlie’s creative genius inspired countless minds, and his light-heart provided endless enjoyment for all that had the honor of knowing him. This is evident in the outpouring of kind messages that his family has received since his passing, some of which have been shared below:

—So many fond memories of Charlie…his art, his puns and jokes, his laugh and love of music. The world will go on, but it will not be as funny, beautiful and bright.

—The world has lost one of its most creative souls.

—He always made the room a little brighter.

—The musician, film-making jokester never ceased to amuse all those around him. His art, lessons, and laughter live on and echo through so many lives that he influenced…especially my own.

—A man that followed his heart, a man that made his own path in life, love and art, but ultimately a man who decided that his compass, his true north, was worth following…and he did this, embodied this so beautifully.

And from his family:

—Creating around the clock, the artesian well of your mind and spirit never ceased to flow out into the world, watering the seeds of multiple generations.

—You led with all your heart, you showed me all that I could be. You will forever remain in my music, art, sense of humor, soul, and memory. You are my hero, and the inspiration for every creative part of me.

—Fifty years of making me laugh and keeping me entertained….I will really miss my soulmate, my very best friend.

Our family deeply appreciates all of the love and support from our incredible family and friends…and we are forever grateful to Dr. Nitschmann, Dr. Simmons, Julie Morales, RN, and the entire outpatient staff at BBRMC for the compassionate care that Charlie received.

A celebration of his incredible life is being planned for the near future.