Joseph H. Wells

Joseph H. Wells, age 92, passed away peacefully at his home on April 17, 2015. He is preceded in death by his parents, Joseph and Barbara Wells; ex-wife, Alice Jane Wells, wife, Ruth Bohn Wells; brothers, Richard, Russell, Ralph; sisters, Frances Taylor, Helen Slivick and Mary Ann McDonald; and great-granddaughter, Ashley Nicole Brown. He is survived by his children, Larry (Colleen) Wells, Mark (Joni) Wells, Sharon (John) Carlson, Ginny (Carl) Graf, Roxanne (J.D.) Westfall, and Connie (Rick) Carpenter; grandchildren Larry Wells, Nicole (Ken) Brown, Johnny, Hillary and Courtney (Stephanie) Carlson, Carl Joseph (Sarah) Graf, Gabrielle (Arthur) Palmer, Jack and Alicia Westfall, Jennifer (Josh) Rountree and Danielle (Scott) Geib; great grandchildren, Brittany Brown, Mitchell and Griffin Palmer, Augustus and Alice Jane Graf, Greyson and Ethan Rountree, and Micah Geib; brother, Rev. Charles Wells; and numerous nieces and nephews. Dad had so many friends, we cannot list them all, but we do wish to express a special thanks to a few of them – Dr. Les Bostic, Capt. Jake Jacobs, former Post Commander Ed Turlo, members of the VFW Post 2398, members of the Buckeye Packard Club and Barbara Tilton who provided a constant lifeline and friendship to Dad. Joe was a proud veteran of the United States Army Air Force and served in the Southwest Pacific during WWII as a flight engineer on a B-24 Liberator with the 380th Bombardment Wing, and was recalled to service in Korea as a Captain. He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, and Air Medal with three Oak Leaf Clusters and numerous other medals and flew 33 bombing missions. He retired from Western Southern Life Insurance as a District Sales Manager, was Manager of the Civil Division, Franklin County Municipal Court and was still an active Board Member of the Columbus Metro Credit Union. He was an active member and held multiple offices in the Brig. Gen. Paul W. Tibbetts Memorial VFW Post 2398, Worthington, OH; Buckeye Packard Club, volunteer and Vice Chairman at the USO, the 380th Bomb Group, 5th AF-RAAF (Flying Circus) 531st Squadron, inducted into the Ohio Veterans Hall of Fame (2009) and was a Kentucky Colonel. Visitation will be held on Thursday, April 23, 2015 from 2-4 & 6-8 PM at the SCHOEDINGER GROVE CITY CHAPEL, 3920 Broadway, Grove City. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated 11 AM Friday at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic Church, 3730 Broadway. Father James Ogurchack, Celebrant. Entombment Resurrection Cemetery. Contributions in Joe’s memory may be made to the USO of Central & Southern Ohio, P.O. Box 13176, Columbus, OH 43213 or Wounded Warrior Project, P.O. Box 758517, Topeka, KS 66675. Visit www.schoedinger.com to share a favorite memory of Joe.