Don R. Wells
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Don Russell Wells was born at home in the farthest north house on 12th St. in Lawrenceville IL, on Armistice Day (11 November) 1929 to his parents Harry A. and Joy Johnson Wells.
After graduating from Lawrenceville Township High School in 1948, then came study at Washington University in St Louis MO, graduating with a bachelor's degree in Business Administration in June 1952. In later years he studied history with the University of Maryland at overseas and US locations, receiving a Bachelor of Arts in 1977.
He entered active Army duty in September 1952. In the following 31 years his assignments were in Kansas, Missouri, Kentucky, Texas, Alabama, Virginia and Maryland in the USA. Overseas assignments included multiple years in Germany, France, Korea, Japan, and Vietnam. He retired with the rank of Colonel in 1983.
After retirement from the US Army he worked in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, with the Vinnell Corporation, involved in training the Saudi National Guard.
He was a life member of the Elks Lodge at Lawrenceville, as well as the VFW post there and the Military Officers Association of America chapter in Columbia, where he served for many years as chapter Secretary. A longtime member of the Lawrenceville United Methodist Church, he transferred to Broadway Christian Church in Columbia 1995-2010, and then to Olivet Christian Church, also in Columbia.
Don married Norma Jean Kirkwood in 1993. She was his high school sweetheart and she survives. After their marriage he relocated to Columbia, MO.
Other survivors include six children: Dr Thomas Wells of St Petersburg FL, Attorney James Wells of Philadelphia PA, Mary Teter of Elizabeth CO, Diane Basinger of Columbia MO, Catherine Haist of Atlanta GA, and Carol Gaddey of Tuscola IL; and many, many grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Burial will be in the Lawrenceville City Cemetery by Cunningham-Young Funeral Home also of Lawrenceville, with graveside service by the Elks Lodge and a military delegation on Saturday, September 25, 2021 at 10:00 a.m.