CHARLES WELLMAN

WELLMAN CHARLES THOMAS WELLMAN, 87, passed away on Monday, June 20, 2011 at the Ambrosio Guillen Texas State Veterans Home following a long illness. Mr. Wellman was born in Fort Gay, West Virginia on March 26, 1924. He was the youngest of six siblings born to Hiram and Dovie Graham Wellman, all of whom preceded him in death. He is survived by his greatly loved and loving wife of 65 years, Ruth Smith Wellman; two devoted daughters, Karen (Mrs. Kenneth)Starr of Orlando, Florida; and Janet (Mrs. Samuel) Meza of Mesa, Arizona; two grandsons; Gary Thomas (Lynn) Starr of Ashburn, Virginia; Christopher Charles Meza of Gilbert, Arizona; and his granddaughter, Secily Meza Downes of Mesa, Arizona; three great-grandsons, Tyler Starr, Cody Downes and Joshua Downes and three great-granddaughters, Kallie Starr, Kaitlin Starr and Jayda Meza; and eleven nephews and seven nieces. Mr. Wellman served twenty-eight years in the armed forces. He participated in the June 6, 1944 D Day invasion and served in Northern France, Ardennes, Rhineland and Central Europe as a tank platoon sergeant. As First Sergeant, he participated in the U.S. Forces occupation of Germany, during which time of service, he was awarded the American Theater Ribbon, the European-African-Middle Eastern Theater Ribbon and the World War II Victory Ribbon. In 1952, he was deployed to Korea during the Korean War. Stationed at Fort Bliss in 1958, he continued to serve his country until 1971. In 1970, he commenced a second career as a highly respected real estate broker, a profession he loved and continued to enjoy for more than thirty years until his health failed. Mr. Wellman served on the Greater El Paso Board of Realtors ethics committee, and was instrumental in the development of vacant land near Loop 375. He was an avid UTEP basketball fan and a staunch Sun Bowl Booster Club member for over 20 years. He was a Kentucky Colonel and a Distinguished Citizen of West Virginia. Mr. Wellman's credo was never to criticize those you love; his motto was "The race isn't to the swiftest; never quit." He served both well and long. To know this remarkable man was to love him. Viewing will be held at Sunset Funeral Home Northeast on Thursday, June 23th from 6 to 8pm. Services will be Friday, June 24th at 8:30 am, also at Sunset Northeast, with interment immediately following at Fort Bliss Cemetery. Pallbearers will be sons-in-law Kenneth Starr and Samuel Meza, and his grandsons Gary Thomas Starr and Christopher Charles Meza. His great grandsons will serve as honorary pallbearers. Services Entrusted to Sunset Funeral Home Northeast. Please visit on-line register book at www.sunsetfuneralhomes.net.