Perry G. Wells

1936 - 2016

SFC Perry Glenn Wells, U.S. Army retired, age 79, of Sturgis, passed away Wednesday morning, March 9, 2016, at Thurston Woods Village in Sturgis.
He was born March 11, 1936, in Spring Hill, Tenn., a son of the late Powell and Edith (Holland) Wells.
Perry resided in Sturgis for the past 42 years, coming from Texas.
In October 1963, he married Geraldine Aures in Detroit.
Perry was a veteran of the U.S. Army, serving from June 28, 1957, until retiring June 30, 1977, earning the rank of sergeant first class. Perry was a member of the First Air Calvary aboard helicopter gunships serving during the Vietnam War and the Korean War. Perry had quite an illustrious career in the Army, including serving with NASA on the Apollo 11 project and as a member of the White House Secret Service Staff for Presidents Kennedy, Johnson and Nixon. Following his retirement, he accepted a position with Coachman Industries in Middlebury, Ind., where he worked for 20 years as head of maintenance until his second retirement.
Perry had several hobbies and talents, including model airplanes, working on engines, working outdoors and riding motorcycles, and he loved shooting and guns in general.
He is survived by his wife of 52 years, Geraldine; three daughters, Belinda (Tom) Whitely of Coldwater, Jodie (Scott) Reynolds of Colon and Melissa Wells of Kalamazoo; a son, Perry (Rebecca) Wells of Missouri; 11 grandchildren; 11 great-grandchildren; two sisters, Stella George of Murfreesboro, Tenn., and Frances (Emmett) Mangrum of Spring Hill, Tenn.; a brother, Danny (Pat) Wells of Lebanon, Tenn.; and several nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents; a daughter, Nila Jean (Wells) Hoyer; and two brothers, Tandy Wells and Harold "Grasshopper" Wells.
In accordance with his wishes, cremation has taken place. Burial of the ashes will take place at the Wells family cemetery in Spring Hill, Tenn., at a later date, when full military honors will be conferred by the U.S. Army Honor Guard.
The Hackman Chapel of Hackman Family Funeral Homes, 114 S. Nottawa St., Sturgis, is honored and humbled to be entrusted with the arrangements.
The family suggests those wishing to make a memorial donation in Perry's memory consider Thurston Woods Village, 307 N. Franks Ave., Sturgis, MI 49091; or Wounded Warrior Project, 4899 Belfort Road, Suite 300, Jacksonville, FL 32256.
His obituary is also at www.hackmanfamilyfuneralhomes.com, where personal messages of support may be left for the family.