Major John Keith Wells USMC (Ret.)

Major John Keith Wells, USMC, (Ret.)

Wheat Ridge Co, formerly of Abilene

Major John Keith Wells, USMC, (Ret.), 94, of Wheat Ridge, Colorado, formerly of Abilene, passed away Thursday, February 11, 2016. A Funeral Service will be held Saturday, February 20, 2016 at 2:00 PM, in the Radford Auditorium at McMurry University with Reverend Paul R. Matta, former Texas Gov. Rick Perry, and Lt. General (Ret.) Joe Weber officiating. Burial will follow in Elmwood Memorial Park with full military honors and military fly over. Service arrangements are being handled by North's Funeral Home. The family will receive friends, Friday, February 19, 2016 from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM in North's Memorial Chapel, 242 Orange Street, Abilene, Texas.

Mr. Wells was born February 5, 1922 in Lakeview, Texas to Del E. and Eddy Marie (Dunn) Wells. He graduated from Lakeview High School. John attended Texas A&M University for two years before proudly serving his country in the United States Marine Corps during World War II, in the Pacific Theater where he received the Navy Cross for his extraordinary heroism as a Rifle Platoon Leader of Company E, Second Battalion, Twenty-eighth Marines, Fifth Marine Division, in action against enemy Japanese forces on Iwo Jima, Volcano Island, 21 February 1945. He received officer training in Quantico, Virginia and paratrooper training at Camp Pendleton which made him a part of the st Marine Parachute Regiment.

After discharge from the Marine Corps, he completed his Geology degree at Texas Tech University in 1948. He was a Major in the U.S. Marine Reserve, an Eagle Scout, recipient of the 1985 Exchange Golden Club Deeds Awards, and recipient of the Boy Scouts highest honor, the Silver Beaver Award. He went into the oil business with two ranchers and one oil man. He taught fencing at Texas Tech University. He fought in Dallas for a week and a half where he won the Southwest, US and Mexico title in Saber Fencing. He married the love of his life Kathryn A. Buchanan on June 5, 1948 in Abilene, Texas.

He is preceded in death by his parents and wife.

He is survived by his daughter, Connie Schultz and husband Herman of Denver, Colorado. Son's John Wells of Denver, Colorado, and Wes Wells and wife Debi of Waco, Texas, one brother Clayton Wells of Abilene and eleven grandchildren and twenty-two great-grandchildren.

In lieu of flowers please make donations to the American Cancer Society or Boy Scouts Texas Trails Counsel Buffalo Mountain District, 3811 North 1st Abilene, Texas 79603, (325) 677-2688.

Online condolences may be made at: www.northsfuneralhome.com.