Carl Wells

Carl C. Wells, 94, of Owensboro, passed away Wednesday, January 11, 2017 at his home. He was born in Hartford, Kentucky, graduated from Hartford High School and attended Western Kentucky University. He went to work as a welder at Modern Welding in 1942 and left to join the Army Air Corps. During World War II he served as a radar technician, flying missions in Italy, India, and China where he flew the notorious "Hump". Following the war in 1946 he returned to Modern Welding in Owensboro and then moved to Orlando to open the plant there. His next assignment was opening the Modern Welding Plant in Houston, after which he moved to Newark, OH where he opened another plant. After returning to Owensboro briefly he was next charged with opening the Burlington, Iowa plant, then back to Owensboro. Mr. Wells had been a long-time member of First Baptist Church, a member of The Salvation Army Auxiliary Board, the Owensboro Rotary Club, and a number of community and civic organizations. Though he often referred to himself as a welder, he ultimately became vice chairman and president of Modern Welding, serving until his retirement. Following the death of his first wife he traveled the world, including trips to both the North and South Poles, Iceland, South America, Europe, Australia, and two safaris in Botswana. Mr. Wells was preceded in death by his parents, John Bunyan Wells and Madelyn Barnard Wells; his wife Wilma Dean Ward Wells; and his brother Glen Wells.

Mr. Wells is survived by his wife, Lois Wells; his sons, Richard Wells and Larry M. "Mike" Wells and his wife, Valorie; his grandchildren, Bobby Wells and his wife, Christina and Mary Wells Stockton and her husband, Art; his step-granddaughter April Kemplin; his nephew, John Wells; and ten great-grandchildren.

The funeral service for Mr. Wells, officiated by Dr. James Wedding, will be 10:00 a.m. Friday at Glenn Funeral Home and Crematory where visitation will be from 4:00 until 8:00 p.m. Thursday and after 8:30 a.m. Friday. Entombment will be in Owensboro Memorial Gardens Mausoleum. Expressions of sympathy may take the form of contributions to the Salvation Army and Hospice of Western Kentucky.