Karen Bingham Wells

Karen “Kay” Frances Bingham was born in Hattiesburg, Mississippi, on June 14, 1941 and passed away on August 1, 2025 in San Antonio, Texas. She met the love of her life, Robert “Lou” Wells in high school and they married on June 25, 1961. Kay and Lou often reminisced on their life together, and loved telling stories about their courtship. Kay was an Air Force wife and moved around the world on various assignments with Lou and their three daughters. Kay had an associate’s degree in bookkeeping, helped young couples get their first homes as a mortgage loan officer, and served as Assistant Vice President at Commercial National Bank. Kay loved sweets, was a grammar enthusiast, and enjoyed reading. After settling in Bossier City, she and Lou became involved with the Holy Family Catholic Chapel on Barksdale Air Force Base, where they ministered and hosted single airmen and young married couples.

Kay became a grandmother at the young age of 45. After she retired, she enjoyed spending time with her grandchildren in Louisiana, North Carolina, and Germany. Some cherished memories include pre-piano lesson snacks at Arby’s, sand dollar hunts on the beach, midnight ‘Nilla Wafer and peanut butter snacks, Albertson’s chocolate cake stored in the microwave, making chocolate malts, and hosting grandchildren's slumber parties. As a grandmother, Kay leaned into her silly side and coined several terms we still laugh about today. For instance, she re-named crane flies as “Billy Bobs” in efforts to keep her squeamish grandchildren from becoming fearful of them. Asked what we were getting for Christmas, it was always the infamous “bedopher.”

To keep life interesting, Kay and Lou adopted a puppy, Foxy, approximately 13 years ago. Following the death of Lou in February 2015, Kay and Foxy moved to San Antonio to live with the Czajkas. While there, Kay attended Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church, where she assisted in serving and supporting the youth and Our Lady of Perpetual Help. Foxy was Kay’s loyal companion until Foxy passed in June 2025.

Kay was preceded in death by her parents, Frances and Joe Bingham, and the love of her life, Robert “Lou” Wells. Left to cherish her memory are her daughters, Nancy Wells (Phil Reiland), Dr. Julia “Judy” Erdie (Colonel James Erdie), and Cynthia “Cindy” Czajka (Colonel Michael Czajka), Lou’s siblings Donna Wells Campbell (Ron Campbell) and Gerald D. Wells (Brenda White Wells), grandchildren Dr. Danielle Seal (Thomas Steinhauser), Adrienne Seal (John Pourciau), Carmen Erdie, Robert Erdie (Jordan Poythress Erdie), Dr. Elizabeth Czajka-Vlahos (Benjamin Czajka-Vlahos), and Christopher Czajka-Hunt (Samantha Czajka-Hunt), great grandchildren Ada and Jolie Pourciau and Edison and Hollis Erdie, nephews Craig Campbell (Andrea Boyer Campbell) and Chad Wells (Holly Magee Wells), and cherished close friends Charles and Kaye “Sister” Owens and their family, Lane Owens (Sharon Owens), Christopher Owens (Erin Frank Owens) and grandchildren, Zack, Michael, Grey, Jaxon, Adley, and Huxton.

Funeral Mass will be held at 10:00 AM on Saturday, August 16, 2025 at Mary Queen of Peace Catholic Church with Rev. Karl J. Daigle officiating. A Rosary will be held at 9:30 AM Interment will be at Hill Crest Memorial Park. A traditional visitation will be held on Friday, August 15th, from 4:00 PM until 6:00 PM at Hill Crest Memorial Funeral Home.