Annabelle Richards Wells

1930 - 2018

Annabelle Richards Wells was born into a farming family in Canutillo, Texas, just outside of El Paso. She was the youngest child, a red-headed farm girl who earned a degree in education and went on to be an extraordinary teacher, touching the lives of hundreds of children in and around El Paso. Over the years she taught Science in several elementary schools in El Paso, as well as English as a Second Language (ESL), and was especially focused on Children with Learning Disabilities.
Annabelle met and married Lt. James W. Wells, a young engineer from Bluefield, Virginia, who was stationed at Holloman AFB near Alamogordo. They went on to raise two children, Suzanne Michaels and Richard Wells. Annabelle lived in El Paso and at the farm all her life, except for a few years in Jal, New Mexico, where her husband was based while working for El Paso Natural Gas Company.
Annabelle grew up attending St. Luke's Episcopal Church in El Paso's upper valley, near the family farm. She was an active, lifelong Episcopalian, who sang in the church choir wherever she was, sharing her beautiful soprano voice. She treasured her church connection. Even when traveling – which she enjoyed greatly – Annabelle sought out Episcopal churches on Sunday mornings.
Through her entire life, Annabelle never lost her love of the farm. She was a good and true farm girl, easily recognized with her bright red hair and open smile.
Annabelle Richards Wells died of natural causes on All Saints Day - November 1, 2018.
Her service is at St. Luke's Episcopal Church, 7050 McNutt Road, La Union, New Mexico, on Saturday, December 8th at 11 a.m. In lieu of flowers please offer donations in the name of Annabelle Wells to St. Luke's Episcopal Church.