Mr. Richard Claude Wells

Richard is survived by his children, Margie Wells and Kathi Wells Macomber of Sanford, Florida. He is also survived by his grandchildren, Richard McLoughlin and Samantha McLoughlin and his son-in-law, Marc Macomber. He is also survived by his father-in-law, Ed Waldron of Fort Myers and his two sisters-in-law, Mary Alice Waldron and Barbara Wells. He was grateful for the love of his nieces and nephews and their children, too.

A Celebration of Life will be held on Monday October 7, 2019 at 5:30 pm at Grace United Methodist Church in Lake Mary, Florida. A reception will follow the ceremony in the Fellowship Hall. Rev. Stephen Binkley will officiate the ceremony. All are welcome to attend and celebrate Richard’s life. In honor of his love for the University of Florida Gators, the family encourages everyone to wear orange and blue at the celebration. In lieu of flowers, please send donations by check to the Parkinson’s Association of Central Florida, PO Box 3337, Winter Park Florida 32790. PACF will also accept donations in his memory at their website, www.parkinsoncf.org. The family would like to thank the staff at Certus Senior Living, Absolute Health Professionals and Kindred Hospice for the loving way they cared for him.

Richard Wells was born on November 30, 1942 in Ft. Myers, Florida to Pete and Katherine Wells. He graduated from the University of Florida in 1965 with a degree in Business Education. He later earned a master’s degree in Educational Leadership from Florida Atlantic University. He married his high school sweetheart, Eva Waldron in 1965 and the couple welcomed two daughters to complete their family. As Richard pursued his goal of becoming a school administrator, the family lived in several cities in southwest Florida. He was a dean in Broward County Public Schools and then, a principal at Lemon Bay Junior High School. He was both a Principal of Charlotte High School and an Assistant Superintendent for Charlotte County Public Schools. In 1980, he was selected as Superintendent of Flagler County Public Schools. At the time, this made him the youngest school superintendent in the state of Florida. In 1983, Richard began a long career with Seminole County Public Schools. Richard’s many job titles with the county included Director of Transportation, Director of Community Involvement and Interim Superintendent.

Richard was a quiet and introverted person who loved to ask people questions, so he didn’t have to talk. He loved his family, American history and reading. He was a member of the United Methodist Church in every city where he lived and served the church as a youth group leader, a Lay Leader or a Finance or Trustee Committee Chair. He was as an active and dedicated member of Rotary, and was a President of multiple clubs, a two-time Rotarian of the year, and a Paul Harris fellow. Despite all of his long hours of work and volunteering, his main focus was being a father and for that, NBC’s Today Show honored him as part of their “Modern Dad” series.