Harold E. Wells

Lt. Col. (Ret'd) HAROLD E. WELLS finally "slipped the surly bonds of earth'" for the last time on April 26, 2021. Hal was born on July 10, 1923 to Mabel and Lloyd Wells in Middletown, Ohio and raised in Kentucky, He was pre-deceased by his siblings: Paul, Donald, Jack and Geraldine and is survived by a sister, Norma. Hal and his first wife, Violet, raised five children, two of whom: David and Steve, pre-deceased him, leaving Marty, Marcia and Jennifer to carry on his legacy. Hal and his second wife, Carole, shared a glorious 36 years together. His two marriages created a very large family of his 5 children, 2 step-children, Chris and Julie, and a total of 16 grandchildren, 20 great-grandchildren, 2 step-grands, one on the way and a host of others he considered "family".

Retiring after 25 years as a jet Fighter pilot in the Air Force through WWII, Korea and Viet Nam, he went on to a second career in retirement housing as an Administrator in Alabama, retiring from Asbury Village Apartments in Gaithersburg in 1988. He was a most valuable participant in church and community activities, gardening, home remodeling and especially, in getting his private pilot's license and flying small planes for several years out of Montgomery Air Park. He remained in close touch with his Air Force friends, extended family and and so many others, garnering admiration and respect from all he encountered.

PROVERBS 22:1 "A good name is to be chosen rather than great riches, loving favor rather than gold"

HIGH FLIGHT

by John Gillespie Magee, Jr.

Oh, I have slipped the surly bonds of earth and danced the skies on laughter-silvered wings.

Onward I've climbed , and joined the tumbling mirth of sun-split clouds and done a hundred things

you have not dreamed of - - wheeled and soared and swung high in sunlit silence.

Hov'ring there, I've chased the howling wind along and flung my eager craft through footless halls of air.

Up, up the delirious burning blue, I've topped the windswept heights with easy grace

where neither lark nor eagle flew.

And, while with silent, lifting mind I've trod the high, untrespassed sanctity of space,

put out my hand, and touched the face of God.