Earl Edward Wells, 85, of Cedar Bluff, formerly of Swords Creek, Va., died Monday at a Richlands, Va., hospital. Born in Russell County, Va., he was the son of the late William E. and Clercey Richardson Wells, both Russell County natives. He had been a resident of the Swords Creek area most of his life having moved to Cedar Bluff two years ago.

He was a retired miner for the Nash-McGlothlin Coal Co., at Raven, Va., and was a member of the Block Church at Swords Creek. He was preceded in death by his first wife, Mrs. Exie Ellen Newberry Wells; second wife, Bertha Bell Vencill Wells; and several sisters and brothers.

Survivors: daughters, Mrs. Jack (Doris) Whitt of Clearwater, Fla., Mrs. Bill (Sue) White and Mrs. Allen (Judy) Brown, both of Cedar Bluff, Mrs. Curt (June) Arms of Raven and Mrs. Rufus (Nora Jean) Smith of Richlands; sons, Hershel Eugene Wells of Clearwater, Donald Lee Wells of Doran, Va., and Edward Allen Wells of Pounding Mill, Va.; step-daughter, Mrs. Paul (Peggy) Cornett of St. Paul, Va.; step-sons, Frank Brown of Roanoke, Va., Jack Brown and Joe Brown, both of Salem, Va.; sisters, Mrs. Ethel Shultz of Fredericksburg, Va., Mrs. Jettie Wilson of Newport News, Va., and Mrs. Shirley Herndon of Cedar Bluff; brother, the Rev. Carter V. Wells of Spotsylvania, Va.; twenty one grandchildren, fifteen step-grandchildren and several great and step great-grandchildren.

The funeral will be at 1 p.m. Thursday at Hurst-Scott Funeral Home Chapel in Richlands, Va., with the Rev. Carl Robinson and the Rev. Ancil Childress officiating. Entombment will be at the Greenhills Memory Gardens Mausoleum at Claypool Hill, Va. Friends may call anytime today at the funeral home where services will be held at 7:30 p.m. with the Rev. Daniel Richardson officiating. Men of the Block Church will serve as pallbearers.
Contributor Debbie Richardson McGlothlin 50938007