Wayne Eston Wells

Wayne Eston Wells, of New Braunfels, Texas, born July 8, 1940 in Keokuk Iowa, passed to his next life on May 18, 2025. He was preceded in death by his parents Wilbur (Esty) and Maxine Wells, brother Jerry Wells, and first wife Barbara.

Wayne is survived by his wife Juanita; children Doug (Rhonda), Dean (Krista), Darci, Damon and stepdaughter Anna Ables; grandchildren Mark Hoke (Sam), Emma, Kaya, Natalie, and Matthew; sister-in-law June Wells; nieces Missy Bryant, and Susan Edwards; nephew Craig Wells; and his cousin Danny and family in England

Wayne served in the Navy, having enlisted on his seventeenth birthday in 1957, and after graduation from Woodrow Wilson HS in Dallas, TX he reported to active duty in July of 1958 to NTS Great Lakes for Boot Camp. He was then sent to NTS San Diego for more training and after several months was to report for the NAVCAD program at NAS North Island and NAS Alameda CA, but after a failed eye exam reported instead aboard the USS Lexington CVA-16 where he served for several years in the Gunnery Department, 1st Division and pursued advancement as a Boatswains Mate in the 1st Division. While his “Tour of Duty” took him to ports in Japan; China; Korea; the Philippines; Singapore; Australia; Honolulu HI; Bremerton WA; San Diego CA; Long Beach CA; Alameda and San Francisco CA and other places. While he was working in a Boatswains Mate division, he studied rating classes for Surveyor 3 through Chief as well as for Boatswain Mate ratings. After his release from the Navy he attended college and studied for his AA Degree. Wayne had worked for Braniff Airways in Dallas for several years, where his first child Doug was born, and then returned to California and worked for Los Airways and resumed his college attendance at El Camino College.

Wayne studied Geology, Civil and Mining Engineering and Surveying at Orange Coast College, El Camino College, Cerritos College, Santa Ana College, Cal State Long Beach as well as Real Property Boundary Law at UCLA and became a Professional Licensed Land Surveyor in 1979. He worked in the Engineering Department for National Seal of Downey, CA; the County of Orange Road Department in Field Surveys, Soils Lab, Traffic Engineering, and lastly the County Surveyors Office as Map Checking in Santa Ana, CA. After becoming licensed as a Professional Land Surveyor in 1979 he worked for several private engineering/surveying firms and as a Private Consultant performed private surveys of all types in his own business, WE Wells Surveying & Mapping. In 1988 he relocated his business to Monterrey. In 1994 he went to work for the State of California Department of Water Resources, Land and Right of Way Dept, Cadastral Surveys in charge of mapping for the California Water Project. He was recognized in 1998 by the Department for his “outstanding contributions to the design and construction of the Coastal Branch of the California Water Project”. During his second year in Sacramento, he met Juanita Williams. They married in June of 1996, and he moved up the road to Yuba City, CA. Wayne became seriously ill in 2006 and had to retire, and Juanita retired soon after. They then relocated to New Braunfels, TX in January of 2007 where he recuperated and enjoyed his years there, especially his time as a parishioner at Saints Peter & Paul Catholic Church and as a member of the Knights of Columbus Council 4183 and Assembly 1791 of New Braunfels where he made many good friends.

A public visitation for Wayne will be held Tuesday, June 10, 2025 from 5:00 PM to 9:00 PM at Zoeller Funeral Home with a rosary at 7:00 PM. A funeral Mass will be Wednesday, June 11, 2025, at 10:00 AM at Saints Peter & Paul Catholic Church in New Braunfels, Texas. Interment will be at Saints Peter & Paul Catholic Cemetery Mausoleum, in New Braunfels Texas.

Wayne and Juanita enjoyed traveling to their time shares in Hawaii and other places in the US and Mexico, and especially many cruises to Europe. North Africa, Israel, Athens, the Greek Isles, the Caribbean and the far East. He loved visiting his son Dean and family in Denmark, and traveling through Germany, Italy and most other parts of Europe. He and Juanita enjoyed their travels. Bon Voyage Wayne on this final voyage!

The family would like to thank the staff of Kirkwood Manor, Christus Santa Rosa Hospital, NBFD EMTs and Hope Hospice for all their compassionate care.