 He resigned from the Philadelphia Bar Association in 1965 in protest of their policies, and ordered an investigation of the Allegheny County Common Pleas Court in 1966 for irregularities.After retiring from the court, Bell lived in Wynnewood and served as a special assistant to the local district attorney.He died on March 18, 1974 at age 81, and is buried at St. Asaph Cemetery in Bala Cynwyd.