Geraldine Ellen Wells

On July 30, 2015, Geraldine Ellen (Gerry) Wells died peacefully in the compassionate care of Kobacker House hospice. She was the youngest of four, born in Akron, Ohio on September 23, 1914, to a Norwegian immigrant mother, Sophie Rask, and builder and master carpenter, Fred Lansinger.

After graduating in 1936 from Mount Sinai School of Nursing in New York City, our mother worked in the operating room of Western Reserve University Hospital in Cleveland. There she met our father, the late Jay Ross Wells, MD, whom she determined to be the most skillful surgical intern. They married in 1940 and after WWII, settled in Newark, Ohio. Because of his many hours devoted to his patients, she accepted the roles of mother and father in his absence. He credited her independence, strength and judgment for his professional success and that of their marriage.

In retirement, she remained active as a member of PEO sisterhood, raising scholarship funds for young women and supporting numerous charitable organizations. She was a voracious reader of history and great novels and a dedicated armchair coach of OSU football. The highlight of her 100th birthday party was her lecture on the Viking secrets for a long, worthwhile life.

She is survived by her children: Dr. Richard (Nancy) Wells of Guntersville, AL, Inga (Lary) Marler of Hendersonville, NC, and Eric (Marlene) Wells of Upper Arlington. She was the loving grandmother of Spencer (Alexandra) Wells of San Francisco, CA, Catie (Ed) Kellett of Huntsville, AL, Christopher Wells of New York City, and Inga Wells of Upper Arlington, and great grandmother of Emily, Henry and Tucker Wells. She was especially close to her niece, Janice Frey, of Washington, DC.

A celebration of life service is planned for September 26 at 10:30 a.m. at Trinity United Methodist Church with the Rev. Dr. Chris Heckaman officiating.

We wish to recognize the superb care of Dr. Lee Jordan and the CHF Clinic staff at the McConnell Heart Hospital, and Dr. Amit Bhojraj and staff of Central Ohio Geriatrics at Friendship Village of Dublin. You gave her life quality and quantity. And to the angels of Kobacker, you preserved her dignity in dying and comforted her family. In lieu of flowers, those wishing to acknowledge our mother might contribute to her favorite charities, PEO International - www.peointernational.org; Faith Mission of Columbus -

www.faithmissionofohio.org; and Kobacker House – www.ohiohealth.com/foundation-hospice.