Veteran, US Army
*****
WELLS -- Vincent (Richard) Wells, 80, former resident of Wichita and for the past 25 years a resident of Albuquerque, N.M., passed away on February 7, 2011, after a long illness. For the last year he and his wife of 57 years, Clara Delores (Huggins) Wells, have lived at the Montebello on Academy, a retirement community. Vince was born June 25, 1930 in Great Bend, Kansas to Roland Otis Wells and Lois Maude (Sparks) Wells. He graduated from Wyandotte High School in Kansas City, Kansas in 1948. He met his wife-to-be at Kansas State University where he earned bachelor degrees in Business Administration and Social Science in 1952. He served as a Corporal in the U.S. Army from 1953 to 1955 and then returned to Kansas State to earn a Masters of Science in Psychology (Industrial Psychology) in 1956. He worked for Kaiser Aluminum in Industrial Relations from 1956 to 1962. Moving to his wife's hometown of Wichita, he spearheaded a number of successful business ventures. In 1962 he opened his first Shakey's Pizza parlor. More were to follow; eventually he had 16 spread from Ohio to Arizona. He and his wife moved to Albuquerque in 1986. In 1995 he founded Haven Care and was one of the first in Albuquerque to provide residential care that specializes in helping those with dementia and Alzheimer's disease. He operated six Haven Care facilities. He took great enjoyment in being active in community and professional organizations and in church. He was involved in the YMCA, Rotary, the Young Presidents Organization, and the Alzheimer's Association of New Mexico. For many years he was president of the International Franchise Dealers Association.He served as Treasurer for Assisted Living Services Organization (ALSO). He was the official photographer, capturing several years of the Alzheimer Association Memory Walk in Albuquerque. For 20 years at Hoffmantown Church in Albuquerque he faithfully served as an Usher Coordinator as well as volunteering weekly in the Prayer Room, often taking the 2:00 a.m., Tuesday shift. Vince is survived by his wife, Dee; a daughter, Stephanie Cole of Denver, Colorado; a son, James Arthur Wells II of San Francisco; a granddaughter, Devon Cole of Denver. Vince was a life-long "positive thinker." When asked "How are you?" his typical response would be "Fantastic! But getting better!" He is fondly remembered by his family and friends as a gregarious, bigger-than-life presence, always at the ready with a bear hug. In fact, his hugs became so legendary that on his 50th birthday, a longtime friend wrote new lyrics to the old standard "Embraceable You," called "In-Vince-able You." He was always the man with the camera, preserving memories in photos and labeling them with a bright gold marker. The service will be private. Memorials can be made to: Wichita YMCA, 340 South Broadway #200, Wichita, KS 67202 or Alzheimer Association, New Mexico Chapter, 9500 Montgomery NE, Suite 121, Albuquerque, NM 87111.
*****
WELLS -- Vincent (Richard) Wells, 80, former resident of Wichita and for the past 25 years a resident of Albuquerque, N.M., passed away on February 7, 2011, after a long illness. For the last year he and his wife of 57 years, Clara Delores (Huggins) Wells, have lived at the Montebello on Academy, a retirement community. Vince was born June 25, 1930 in Great Bend, Kansas to Roland Otis Wells and Lois Maude (Sparks) Wells. He graduated from Wyandotte High School in Kansas City, Kansas in 1948. He met his wife-to-be at Kansas State University where he earned bachelor degrees in Business Administration and Social Science in 1952. He served as a Corporal in the U.S. Army from 1953 to 1955 and then returned to Kansas State to earn a Masters of Science in Psychology (Industrial Psychology) in 1956. He worked for Kaiser Aluminum in Industrial Relations from 1956 to 1962. Moving to his wife's hometown of Wichita, he spearheaded a number of successful business ventures. In 1962 he opened his first Shakey's Pizza parlor. More were to follow; eventually he had 16 spread from Ohio to Arizona. He and his wife moved to Albuquerque in 1986. In 1995 he founded Haven Care and was one of the first in Albuquerque to provide residential care that specializes in helping those with dementia and Alzheimer's disease. He operated six Haven Care facilities. He took great enjoyment in being active in community and professional organizations and in church. He was involved in the YMCA, Rotary, the Young Presidents Organization, and the Alzheimer's Association of New Mexico. For many years he was president of the International Franchise Dealers Association.He served as Treasurer for Assisted Living Services Organization (ALSO). He was the official photographer, capturing several years of the Alzheimer Association Memory Walk in Albuquerque. For 20 years at Hoffmantown Church in Albuquerque he faithfully served as an Usher Coordinator as well as volunteering weekly in the Prayer Room, often taking the 2:00 a.m., Tuesday shift. Vince is survived by his wife, Dee; a daughter, Stephanie Cole of Denver, Colorado; a son, James Arthur Wells II of San Francisco; a granddaughter, Devon Cole of Denver. Vince was a life-long "positive thinker." When asked "How are you?" his typical response would be "Fantastic! But getting better!" He is fondly remembered by his family and friends as a gregarious, bigger-than-life presence, always at the ready with a bear hug. In fact, his hugs became so legendary that on his 50th birthday, a longtime friend wrote new lyrics to the old standard "Embraceable You," called "In-Vince-able You." He was always the man with the camera, preserving memories in photos and labeling them with a bright gold marker. The service will be private. Memorials can be made to: Wichita YMCA, 340 South Broadway #200, Wichita, KS 67202 or Alzheimer Association, New Mexico Chapter, 9500 Montgomery NE, Suite 121, Albuquerque, NM 87111.
Veteran, US Army
*****
WELLS -- Vincent (Richard) Wells, 80, former resident of Wichita and for the past 25 years a resident of Albuquerque, N.M., passed away on February 7, 2011, after a long illness. For the last year he and his wife of 57 years, Clara Delores (Huggins) Wells, have lived at the Montebello on Academy, a retirement community. Vince was born June 25, 1930 in Great Bend, Kansas to Roland Otis Wells and Lois Maude (Sparks) Wells. He graduated from Wyandotte High School in Kansas City, Kansas in 1948. He met his wife-to-be at Kansas State University where he earned bachelor degrees in Business Administration and Social Science in 1952. He served as a Corporal in the U.S. Army from 1953 to 1955 and then returned to Kansas State to earn a Masters of Science in Psychology (Industrial Psychology) in 1956. He worked for Kaiser Aluminum in Industrial Relations from 1956 to 1962. Moving to his wife's hometown of Wichita, he spearheaded a number of successful business ventures. In 1962 he opened his first Shakey's Pizza parlor. More were to follow; eventually he had 16 spread from Ohio to Arizona. He and his wife moved to Albuquerque in 1986. In 1995 he founded Haven Care and was one of the first in Albuquerque to provide residential care that specializes in helping those with dementia and Alzheimer's disease. He operated six Haven Care facilities. He took great enjoyment in being active in community and professional organizations and in church. He was involved in the YMCA, Rotary, the Young Presidents Organization, and the Alzheimer's Association of New Mexico. For many years he was president of the International Franchise Dealers Association.He served as Treasurer for Assisted Living Services Organization (ALSO). He was the official photographer, capturing several years of the Alzheimer Association Memory Walk in Albuquerque. For 20 years at Hoffmantown Church in Albuquerque he faithfully served as an Usher Coordinator as well as volunteering weekly in the Prayer Room, often taking the 2:00 a.m., Tuesday shift. Vince is survived by his wife, Dee; a daughter, Stephanie Cole of Denver, Colorado; a son, James Arthur Wells II of San Francisco; a granddaughter, Devon Cole of Denver. Vince was a life-long "positive thinker." When asked "How are you?" his typical response would be "Fantastic! But getting better!" He is fondly remembered by his family and friends as a gregarious, bigger-than-life presence, always at the ready with a bear hug. In fact, his hugs became so legendary that on his 50th birthday, a longtime friend wrote new lyrics to the old standard "Embraceable You," called "In-Vince-able You." He was always the man with the camera, preserving memories in photos and labeling them with a bright gold marker. The service will be private. Memorials can be made to: Wichita YMCA, 340 South Broadway #200, Wichita, KS 67202 or Alzheimer Association, New Mexico Chapter, 9500 Montgomery NE, Suite 121, Albuquerque, NM 87111.
*****
WELLS -- Vincent (Richard) Wells, 80, former resident of Wichita and for the past 25 years a resident of Albuquerque, N.M., passed away on February 7, 2011, after a long illness. For the last year he and his wife of 57 years, Clara Delores (Huggins) Wells, have lived at the Montebello on Academy, a retirement community. Vince was born June 25, 1930 in Great Bend, Kansas to Roland Otis Wells and Lois Maude (Sparks) Wells. He graduated from Wyandotte High School in Kansas City, Kansas in 1948. He met his wife-to-be at Kansas State University where he earned bachelor degrees in Business Administration and Social Science in 1952. He served as a Corporal in the U.S. Army from 1953 to 1955 and then returned to Kansas State to earn a Masters of Science in Psychology (Industrial Psychology) in 1956. He worked for Kaiser Aluminum in Industrial Relations from 1956 to 1962. Moving to his wife's hometown of Wichita, he spearheaded a number of successful business ventures. In 1962 he opened his first Shakey's Pizza parlor. More were to follow; eventually he had 16 spread from Ohio to Arizona. He and his wife moved to Albuquerque in 1986. In 1995 he founded Haven Care and was one of the first in Albuquerque to provide residential care that specializes in helping those with dementia and Alzheimer's disease. He operated six Haven Care facilities. He took great enjoyment in being active in community and professional organizations and in church. He was involved in the YMCA, Rotary, the Young Presidents Organization, and the Alzheimer's Association of New Mexico. For many years he was president of the International Franchise Dealers Association.He served as Treasurer for Assisted Living Services Organization (ALSO). He was the official photographer, capturing several years of the Alzheimer Association Memory Walk in Albuquerque. For 20 years at Hoffmantown Church in Albuquerque he faithfully served as an Usher Coordinator as well as volunteering weekly in the Prayer Room, often taking the 2:00 a.m., Tuesday shift. Vince is survived by his wife, Dee; a daughter, Stephanie Cole of Denver, Colorado; a son, James Arthur Wells II of San Francisco; a granddaughter, Devon Cole of Denver. Vince was a life-long "positive thinker." When asked "How are you?" his typical response would be "Fantastic! But getting better!" He is fondly remembered by his family and friends as a gregarious, bigger-than-life presence, always at the ready with a bear hug. In fact, his hugs became so legendary that on his 50th birthday, a longtime friend wrote new lyrics to the old standard "Embraceable You," called "In-Vince-able You." He was always the man with the camera, preserving memories in photos and labeling them with a bright gold marker. The service will be private. Memorials can be made to: Wichita YMCA, 340 South Broadway #200, Wichita, KS 67202 or Alzheimer Association, New Mexico Chapter, 9500 Montgomery NE, Suite 121, Albuquerque, NM 87111.
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