Wanda L. Wells

Wanda Levell Wells was born on November 28, 1945, in Eudora, Arkansas to Lemuel and Theola Wells. In 1956, when Wanda was 11 years old, his family moved to San Bernardino, California. Wanda attended Ramona-Allesandro Elementary School and Franklin Junior High School. In 1963, he graduated from San Bernardino High School (San Berdoo). Wanda accepted the Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior in his early years, he fellowshipped at Temple Missionary Baptist Church in San Bernardino and in his later years he attended Calvary Chapel Hemet under the leadership of Pastor Gary Johnson.

Wanda is best known as the founder and sole proprietor of Wanda’s Auto Upholstery which he operated for over 50 years. Wanda’s legacy as an entrepreneur and community servant are only surpassed by his charity, generosity and commitment as a family man, father figure and role model to many. Wanda’s Auto Upholstery (WAU) origins in the custom car business were born from Wanda’s passion for creativity, style and perfection; skills he honed at his first job in the auto industry at “Angie’s Auto-Tune Shop” on Highland Ave in San Bernardino. WAU was a community cornerstone enterprise on the westside of San Bernardino. Affectionately known as, “The Shop,” WAU served as place of friendship and refuge. Wanda’s craftsmanship was unique and widely recognized yielding volumes of media coverage in the custom car industry over five decades. The capstone achievement in Wanda’s career as a custom-car guru was in 2009, when Wanda was officially inducted into the prestigious “Route 66 Hall of Fame.” Wanda personally mentored several entrepreneurs, skilled craftsmen, and car enthusiasts. He loved, adored, and valued his extended family, his professional and personal friends alike. He sponsored many youth and sports organizations, and community service groups all over San Bernardino County. Wanda enjoyed Drag Racing, Softball, Bowling, Fishing, and he and his sons along with his life-long friends could be found at Custom Car Show venues across the region on any given weekend.

Wanda’s legacy as an entrepreneur and community servant are only surpassed by his charity, generosity and commitment as a family man, father figure and role model to many over the years. He was a loving husband to Dorothy L. Wells for 42 years; their combined family includes five sons - Kerry Carter (Kris), Lemuel Amen (Crystal), Jerry Carter Jr (Kai), Ricky Wells, and Damion Wells. He also leaves behind two beloved sisters Jewel DeMorst and Clara Faye Boswell. His legacy lives on in the hearts of his cherished sixteen grandchildren, two great-grandchildren, in-laws, nieces, nephews, extended family, and countless friends and custom-car enthusiasts across the country.

On January 10th, 2022, with his loving wife, Dorothy by his side, Wanda entered Heaven after fighting a courageous battle with Pancreatic Cancer. He is preceded in death by his father, Lemuel; mother, Theola and brothers, Lemuel, Richard and Samuel.