From a contemporary press report:
A memorial service for retired U.S. Air Force Chief Master Sergeant James William Wells, 66, of Dover, Delaware, was held Saturday, March 23 at, Bennie Smith Funeral Home, Dover. Sergeant Wells died of natural causes Thursday, March 14, 2002, in his home.
Sergeant Wells was born June 29, 1935, son of the late James G. Wells and Ruth R. Wells of Ambler, Pennsylvania.
He attended Ambler High School, graduating in 1953.
Wells enlisted in the U.S. Air Force in 1957. While in the service, he received numerous decorations and awards, including the Bronze Star Medal, the Meritorious Service Medal, the Presidential Unit Citation and the Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal.
Upon retiring from the Air Force in 1985 with the rank of Chief Master Sergeant, he was employed at Metal Masters, Smyrna.
He was an avid sports fan and enjoyed cooking.
Sergeant Wells was a member of Masonic Lodge 28, where he once served as a past master and as a special assistant to the grandmaster of Delaware.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife, Carrie D. Wells.
He is survived by a son, James L. Wells of Richmond, Virginia; a brother and sister-in-law, Charles G. and Joyce Wells of Duncanville, Texas; three nieces, Evangeline McCrowey-Costa of White Plains, New York., Debbie Miller of Bronx, New York, and Verna Bethune of New Rochelle, New York; three nephews, Michael D. Wells and Charles G. Wells Jr., both of Dallas, and Paul Burks of
Columbus, Ohio; a host of other relatives and friends; and his beloved friend, Georgianna Crapper, of Dover.
Burial will be at 1 p.m. Thursday, March 28, in Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Virginia.
Michael Robert Patterson was born in Arlington and is the son of a former officer of the US Army. So it was no wonder that sooner or later his interests drew him to American history and especially to American military history. Many of his articles can be found on renowned portals like the New York Times, Washingtonpost or Wikipedia.
Reviewed by: Michael Howard