Jack Clinton Wells

Born in Gleichen, Alberta on Feb 5, 1923. Passed away in New Westminster, B.C. on July 20, 2015. Predeceased by wife Dawn in 2008, son Donald in 1949, parents Ray and Mary, sisters Harriette & Valerie. Survived by daughter Audrey of Pitt Meadows, son Douglas (Ann) of Calgary. Grandchildren Paul, Kerri (Frank), Sarah (Scott), Bryan (Ashleigh) and Kevin (Sofia). As well as Great-Grandchildren Adam, Ella, Emily, Ben and Lennon. Jack grew up in rural Alberta where he finished school in Gleichen. He then enlisted in the RCAF in 1941 at Calgary to become an observer/navigator - Flight Lieutenant. Jack went overseas and flew 6 missions of U-Boat patrol in the Bay of Biscay and Atlantic in Whitley aircraft, 9 missions main Force RAF Bomber Command 78 SQDN in Halifax aircraft and 45 missions Pathfinder Force, RAF Bomber Command 35 SQDN and 635 SQDN in Lancaster aircraft. Jack was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross in October 1944. After the war he first went to Klemtu on the coast to captain a fish packer then on to Prince Rupert in 1949 as cold storage foreman for Royal Fisheries. In 1965 Jack joined the Canadian Coast Guard as deckhand on the Alexander MacKenzie out of Prince Rupert and worked his way to a Masters Home Trade certificate at Western Maritime Institute. He was relief master for the rescue cutters out of Victoria before going back to Prince Rupert for the new posting of Master of the Point Henry rescue cutter until his retirement in 1988. He and Dawn moved to Aldergrove in 1982 then to Burnaby in 2009. He lived on his own to the end, pleased not to have gone to a nursing home. A life well lived. Memorial to be at Ocean View Funeral Home, 4000 Imperial Street, Burnaby at 1:00 PM July 28th. Donations to SPCA in lieu of flowers.