Doris Elmetta Wells

Doris Jones Raphael Wells, age 87, honored teacher, devoted wife and mother, passed away peacefully on October 12, 2005 at the Army Retirement Community in San Antonio. She grew up in rural Florida, but was proud to call San Antonio her home for over 40 years. She was born on October 5, 1918 to Clarence William Jones and Claudia Cecil McCranie of Grand Ridge Florida, both of whom trace their ancestors to southern colonial settlers prior to U.S. Independence. Doris attended public schools in Florida, and as the first member of her family to attend college, attended the Florida State College for Women now Florida State University and in 1938 received her teaching certification. During World War II, while working as a clerk at the Mariana Florida Air Base, she met her husband of 43 years, then Army Air Corps flight cadet, Victor G. Raphael of Natick Massachusetts. They were married in 1943, and while Victor served as a pilot overseas in the Asian Theatre, Doris taught school in Greenwood, Florida. After World War II, Doris supported her husband throughout his 25 year career in the U.S. Air Force, until his retirement in 1964, when they retired in San Antonio. Doris then returned to her love of teaching children and completed a Bachelor of Science Degree in Education at Our Lady of the Lake College and a Master of Arts in Elementary Education and a Special Certificate in Reading from Incarnate Word College. She worked in the San Antonio Northside Independent School District NISD as reading specialist for over 20 years until her retirement, with over ten years at Glen Oaks Elementary School. During her career she received numerous awards and was named the NISD 1980-81 Teacher of the Year. She served as an officer on the Alamo Reading Council and was an active member of the Texas State Teachers' Association and the National Education Association. Doris's dedication to children and teaching was reflected in her active support of The Delta Kappa Gamma Society International The Teachers' Professional Service Organization for 25 years. She received the prestigious State Achievement Award in 1989. She served as the President 1976-78 of the Society's San Antonio Chapter Iota Beta, as the Area VI Coordinator, Secretary-Treasurer and Chairman of the San Antonio Area Coordinating Council, Chair of the State Necrology Committee. She received the Delta Kappa Gamma Society's Key Women Educator Award in 1985, 1987, 1989, and 1993. She also served as Chair of the Society's Texas State Convention in 1987. Doris was also a member of the Order of Eastern Star and was a long-time member of Colonial Hills Methodist Church, where she received training and served as a Stephen Minister ministering to others in grief. Her husband Victor passed away in 1991, and in 1994, she married Colonel Woodrow Wells US Army Retired, a widowed long-time family friend. They lived at the Army Retirement Community until his death in 1997. Doris is survived by her son, Colonel Victor G. Raphael, US Army, Retired of Springfield, Virginia; two daughters, Marcia E. Raphael of San Antonio and Janet M. Morgan of Ethel, Mississippi; her elder sister, Evelyn Burns of Woodstock, Georgia; and her brother, Buck Jones of Jakin, Georgia; five grandchildren; and one great grandchild. In lieu of flowers friends may send a donation in her honor to Delta Kappa Gamma Scholarships, 2514 Grasmere Street, Garland, Texas 75040.