Obel H. "Obie" Wells

Wells, Obel H. "Obie"
May 10, 1929 - Mar. 3, 2013
Col. Obel H. "Obie" Wells, 83, (U.S. Army Retired) of Sportsman Road, died Sunday, March 3, 2013 at the Fawcett Memorial Hospital in Port Charlotte, FL. Services will be held from 11:00 AM to 12:00 PM on Thurs., at St. Monica Catholic Church in Barre, VT. Funeral arrangements by: Hooker and Whitcomb Funeral Home.
Born May 10, 1929 in Sayre, Oklahoma, he was the son of Thurmond and Inez Wells. In 1948, he graduated from Coachella High School in Indio, CA and received his Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Administration in 1965 from St. Benedict's College in Atchison, KS and later his Master's Degree in Political Science at Auburn University in Montgomery, AL.
On August 4, 1948 he entered the U.S. Army in Sacramento, CA and attended Army Officer Candidate School at Fort Riley, KS, being commissioned a 2nd Lieutenant in the Infantry on March 23, 1951. He was inducted into the Officer Candidate School Hall of Fame at Fort Benning, GA in 2011.
In 1965 he graduated from the Army Command and General Staff College at Fort Leavenworth, KS. A distinguished combat officer, he served as an Infantry Unit Commander in Korea and was a Helicopter Unit Commander while serving for 20 months in Vietnam.
Among his many decorations, he was awarded the Combat Infantryman's Badge with star, the Silver Star, the Bronze Star Medal with three oak leaf clusters, the Air Medal five times and the Purple Heart. His foreign service was recognized by the Korean government and he had received several awards because of his distinguished service in Vietnam, from their government.
During his military career he became a Master Parachutist and Master Aviator and was discharged as a full Colonel at Ft. Devens, MA on August 31, 1978. An assignment prior to his discharge was being the Aviation Capability Advisor to the Shah of Iran and he became a recognized expert on Middle Eastern Affairs.
Being a soldier model for the Korean War Memorial in Washington, D.C. he was a distinguished guest at the dedication ceremony there.
He and his family moved to their home on Ridgewood Terrace in Barre Town in 1978, and he began his career as a stockbroker and financial advisor in 1979. Following his retirement, he and his wife "Suzie" built their home in Rotonda West, FL.
He was first married to Catherine Sortis and they later divorced.
On May 16, 1964 he married Pauline M. "Suzie" Burrell at Fort Leavenworth, KS. They had resided at several military installations before moving to Barre Town in 1978 and later to Rotonda West, FL. "Suzie" died July 7, 2001 in Berlin, VT.
Traveling, reading, golf, writing, coin and currency collecting and entertaining his friends were his special interests. He was an active member of the Barre Rotary Club and past president, and belonged to the Barre Country Club, the Rotonda Golf Club and St. Monica Catholic Church.
Survivors include his daughter, Elizabeth Blake and her husband, Courtland, of East Walpole, MA and his son Michael Wells and his wife, Helen, in Goldens Bridge, NY and his daughter-in-law, Voula Wells of Greenwich, CT, as well as seven grandchildren; Calvin and Julie Blake and Steven, Nicholas, Andrew, Konstantine, and Katrina Wells and numerous nieces and nephews.
He also leaves two sisters; Uneida Burt and Arthula Kennard and step brothers Jack, Joel and Donald Wells and stepsister Ramona Coffer.
Besides his parents and his wife "Suzie", he was predeceased by his son George, his sister Orpha Ferguson and brothers Seaburn and Lloyd Wells and stepbrother Dean Wells.
"Obie" was a 24 year survivor of his heart transplant in 1989 and was a great supporter and fund raiser for the American Heart Association in the Washington County area.
Col. Wells' Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Thursday, March 14, 2013 at 11:00 AM, in St. Monica Catholic Church in Barre.
His interment with full military honors accorded will be held at the Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, VA at a time to be announced. There are no calling hours.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Wounded Warriors Project, P.O. Box 758517, Topeka, KS 66675, or the Barre Rotary Club, P.O. Box 465, Barre, VT 05641.
The Hooker and Whitcomb Funeral Home, 7 Academy Street, Barre, VT is in charge of the arrangements.