James Wells

(From Mason-Woodard Mortuary)

James Lee Wells of Joplin, Mo., passed away unexpectedly at his home on Wednesday, August 11, 2021 at the age of 88. He was born in Center, Missouri on October 5, 1932 to Cleo and Barbara Wells. He graduated from Perry High School in 1950 and enlisted in the Air Force in 1952.

James served at Keesler Air Force Base in Mississippi, Hahn Air Force Base in Germany, and Phalsbourg Air Base in northern France. He was later transferred to Berlin, Germany where he met the “love of his life,” Erika Pegel, and married her on September 7, 1956. 

Upon his return to the United States, he worked as a Flight Service Specialist and eventually settled in Joplin, working at the Joplin Municipal Airport. He retired from the FAA in 1987. He was a member of First Christian Church in Joplin, a prior member of the Joplin Elks Lodge, and sang with local barbershop groups over the years.

He will be remembered for his love of watching westerns and classic car auctions on TV, his nightly prayers with Mom, listening to big band music, his love of cars (especially convertibles), whistling and singing around the house, participating in cruise night/car shows, his weekly phone calls with his siblings, the dozen roses he gave Mom every year on their anniversary, listening to Swap Shop, tinkering in his garage for hours, asking “Alexia” (yes, that's what he called it) what an actor's net worth was, handing out $2 bills to the children with birthdays at the donut shop, dancing with Mom before church on Sunday mornings, sitting on the patio and 'hand' feeding the squirrels, sharing a late night shot of Johnny Walker Red with his son-in-law Bill, his pet rabbits- Harvey and Roger, and coffee and donuts every morning with the gang at Dude's and later with the 'doughboys' at Super Donuts (Greg, Stanley, Larry, Jack, G.L., Merlin, Dean, Jason, Kenny, Ken, Mike, Jack and Jill--- he looked forward to starting his day with you). A special 'thank you' to Lee and Anna for taking care of Dad; hope you know how much he thought of Salina and Benji! 

Dad didn't know a stranger and always had a big smile on his face, a corny joke, or a story to tell. He was a real gentleman. He loved fierce, worked hard, taught us well, and fought the good fight. He was our hero and will be missed by all.

He is survived by his wife, Erika Wells; daughter, Karen Redden and husband, Bill, of Broken Arrow, Okla.; grandsons Spencer Redden of Joplin, Parker Redden and wife Alisha of Broken Arrow, Oklahoma. He was “Gopa” to two great grandchildren that were his pride and joy- Laurel Bea and Calvin. 

James is also survived by a brother, Francis Wells of Hannibal, Mo.; two sisters, Carlene Galloway of Vandalia, Mo. and Carol Norman and husband, Buddy, of Perry, Mo. and a multitude of other family and friends (if you were a friend, you were family). A daughter, Kelly Wells, preceded him in death in 2019.

A celebration of James' life will be scheduled later in the year. Memorial contributions can be made to Joplin First Christian Church or the American Cancer Society.