Art Bell's wife Ramona has passed on

I was listening to George Noory,
he said more information is on Whitley Streiber's website www.unknowncountry.com but that site is overloaded.

This was posted to http://www.fantasticforum.com/1res/showthread.php?s=71665368b684de19acaa49a6e42cdca7&threadid=20471&perpage=15&pagenumber=2

"From Unknown Country..

Ramona Bell Dies
06-Jan-2006

Art Bell's beloved wife of fifteen years, Ramona, died unexpectedly last night after an asthma attack. At present, the exact cause of Mrs. Bell's death has not been determined. It apparently took place during her sleep.

Until her death, Art and Ramona Bell had not been apart a day since they were married. Mrs. Bell had suffered from asthma for years, and took her normal steps to control the attack, which occured sometime last night in Laughlin, Nevada where the Bells were taking a brief vacation. Ramona Bell was 47 years old."


There's one mention on usenet:
http://groups.google.com/group/alt.fan.art-bell/browse_thread/thread/91f3efa90b59831d/7d2d0c2ec641a056?hl=en#7d2d0c2ec641a056

Tragic Loss for Art

Newsgroups: alt.fan.art-bell
From: "J.M. Flagg" <j...@flag.biz> - Find messages by this author
Date: Fri, 06 Jan 2006 06:40:03 GMT
Local: Thurs, Jan 5 2006 10:40 pm
Subject: Tragic Loss for Art

http://www.smeter.net/forums/viewtopic.php?p=889#889

> I am shocked and overwhelmed to hear that Art's wonderful wife
> Ramona passed away today.

> Art, I am so sorry. My thoughts are with You and Yours.

> Tim

Amen.

R.I.P. Ramona.

I 've been a fan of Art's for years.

I and my family's condolances go out to him.


Peace.

I remember listening one night where he basically called off a show to be with her, to help her get better during an attack. I remember thinking "That's a good man, there." Truly sad.

PB

with all the psychics and remote viewers he knows, she would have been in a hospital when this happened.

*sigh*

There's always at least one joker at the wake.

--p!

They were very close. This is awful news.

This is so very, very sad. Ramona was Art's LIFE. I know he must be completely devastated. My deepest heartfelt sympathies go out to Art.

I have a wonderful pic of Art and Ramona from Art's webcam at the moment of New Year's Eve that I'd like to post in honor of them, but I've never posted a pic at DU before, and can't seem to get it to post. It is a lovely picture that really captures a special moment.

Thank you. I should've known Dale would've had it posted in the gallery at FF. It's a classic. And under the circumstances, it is so very, very special. Thanks again for finding it, bananas.

tinypic.com was having problems, I just uploaded it there.

I tried, and couldn't get the site to load. That pic belongs here.

the good people at Coast To Coast have my condolences. They have provided me with so much, this is so unfortunate at such a young age.

One of Art's ham radio buddies posted this one to their website tonight. I thought DU'rs might appreciate this one... it brought a sad smile to my face.

It's the last post on the page.
They are upset that he hasn't gone to open lines.

http://www.fantasticforum.com/1res/showthread.php?s=4d1a44db6d7d4dc3521b42ef64dba5f3&threadid=20471&perpage=15&pagenumber=8

George Noory

I care deeply for you FF members....but there is something far more serious here...please understand that what is going on is much deeper ...and that is now our concern.

but the Pirates over at FF were in deep shock, and it might have helped if George had responded sooner. (I'm sure it's appreciated that he responded at all, however.) For many of Art's long-time fans, Ramona felt like a part of the family. That's just because of how Art always shared his personal life on his show. I am personally VERY worried about Art, and George's comments about something deeper that is now of concern trouble me greatly. I'm hoping for the best for Art. He has lost his beautiful soulmate, and healing from such a loss will be slow and very painful. My heart goes out to him tonight.

"but there is something far more serious here...please understand that what is going on is much deeper ...and that is now our concern."


What is that supposed to mean??? Only raises more questions. I hope Art is ok.

This is such horrible news. I couldn't believe it when I woke up and heard George making the announcement. She was just on the other night during the New Years Eve show and she sounded so happy and healthy and was wishing everyone a "Happy New Year".

I cannot even imagine what Art is going through. This will be a tough road for him.

All we can do is send our prayers to him.

Godspeed, Ramona, Rest in Peace.

so shaken by the death of a beloved cat that he quit C2C except for doing a show once or twice a month. Godnoze if we'll ever hear from the dear fellow----unless he'll find radio cathartic, in which case maybe he'll come back to us. Poor, poor Art and poor Ramona. She was a good egg to live in that double-wide with that wonderful loon for lo those many years.

Just kidding. But I KNOW that's what a lot of people are thinking right now.

Friday night is open lines.
Streaming audio links from the NightHawkZone.com discussion forum which Noory mentions from time to time.
http://s3.forumforfree.com/index.php?mforum=nighthawk&showtopic=7

Long story, but it was the reason for his first departure from the airwaves. The guy who attacked him was a substitute teacher at his high school who apparently had AIDS and was deliberately trying to infect Bells son and another boy. The guy was convicted and imprisoned for it.

They were even worried he might have become infected with HIV.

It took years before Art went public with that.

Nothing yet on either local newspaper site. Ramona was, of course, a local Hawai'i girl, which may in part account for the show's popularity here (well, that and the time change, which means we get it at 7 or 8 o'clock, depending on the season!). Nothing at the local radio/TV site either. Odd.

:( :( :(

didn't they run that radio station or soemthing together?

its like I really knew them

usually radio for me is just a noise in the background or just some insignificant blathering-- but I so enjoyed Art's program in the late night a few yrs back when I was remodellng my house and had insomnia--really deep far-ranging conversations, not at all just "tin foil hat" stuff although yep there was that too.

Art Bell is the best interviewer ever. I hope he decides to come back.

such good and happy marriages.

RIP Ramona.

:cry:

You could tell that he loved Ramona deeply just by the way he talked about her.
Peace to Ramona and Art, my thoughts are with you both.

UPDATE: For the very many of you who have asked where you may send cards and letters of condolence, they should be sent to: Art Bell, C/O Premiere Radio Networks, 15260 Ventura Blvd. Sherman Oaks, CA 91403. Please do not send flowers. The funeral will be private.

From Whitley Strieber: "While speaking to Art today, I made him aware of the beautiful and heartfelt outpouring of love and sympathy that has appeared in Unknowncountry's email. He was touched and, I believe, felt a sense of support in his grief. If you pray, do pray for Art to have strength and Ramona peace in this difficult period of separation for them."

http://www.unknowncountry.com

He retired so that he could spend more time with his wife Ramona. My Dad lost his wife of 55 years (my Mom) last year. The only thing that kept me sane with my loss was seeing how Dad was losing it.

I never knew how much Dad loved Mom until that day.

I'm a big fan. So unexpected, so sudden. Sending thoughts and prayers.