By Christine Hennessey – Photos by G. Frank. Hart
Vicky and Van Bell began dating as high schoolers in southern Illinois and have been together ever since. As a married couple, Van spent four years in the army and for that final year, the family was stationed in Germany. It was their first time overseas and sparked a lifelong love of travel—to date, they’ve visited 71 different counties and lived abroad for ten years collectively. When Van left the army, he returned to his job at Monsanto where he stayed for 38 years, and was responsible for all Monsanto manufacturing in the Asia Pacific, South America, and Mexico operations. By this point, the kids were grown and Van and Vicky were able to travel together often in their free time. When the Bells were ready to retire, however, they chose North Carolina and built what was supposed to be their “forever home” just outside of Asheville. Everything was going according to plan, and then their son, Cress, owner of Bell Custom Homes, moved from California to Wilmington with his wife and two young children. Vicky and Van visited often, renting a home near the beach for a few months each winter. “We were talking one day and Cress said, ‘Why don’t you
move to Wilmington? Let me build you a house,’” Vicky says. The opportunity to
live close to their grandchildren was too good to resist. The Bells made the decision to sell their mountain home and build a new forever at the beach.
Click Here To Read Full Article
