Colonel Howard W. "Bill" Wells, USAF

97, of Largo, passed away July 8, 2017. He is survived by his wife of 25 years, Rita; his son, Terry (Janet); two grandsons, Todd (Emily) and Scott (Alissa); four grandchildren, Evan, Elizabeth, Raegen and Lila Wells; as well as the Harmuth family and the Kilroy family. Born in Newtown, IL on January 17, 1920, and raised in Quincy, IL. He attended Quincy University. In 1941, he enlisted in the Army Air Corps. He was a career regular Air Force Officer with 31 years of service which started before Pearl Harbor. As a Fighter Pilot during WWII, he was assigned to the Philippines, flying more than 80 combat missions in P-51, P-40 and P-38 fighter aircrafts. Overseas service included tours of duty in Alaska, Turkey, Germany and South Vietnam where he was Deputy of Chief of Staff for Civil Engineering at Headquarters 7th Air Force. Three different times he was awarded the Legion of Merit for meritorious service. He returned to Quincy and was part owner and operator of a concrete products business with his brother, Douglas Wells. He was recalled, and he was a Reserve. He attended various military schools including the Air Force Command Staff College, the Armed Forces Staff College, and the Air Force Institute of Technology Graduate School of Engineering and Management. He spent 10 years in the Pentagon, Washington, D.C., over four years in Colorado Springs, and three years in Weisbaden, Germany in various assignments. He completed 31 years of service and attained the rank of Colonel. He came to St. Petersburg in 1973 and has been a member of the St. Petersburg Yacht Club, the Seminole Lake Country Club and the Bayou Club. A memorial mass will take place in his honor on Friday, August 25, 2017 at 10am at the Cathedral Church of St. Peter, 140- 4th St. N., St. Petersburg. Interment will take place at Bay Pines National Cemetery with full military honors and a Celebration of Life to follow at the Bayou Club.