OBITUARY: John L. Wells

WICHITA—John L. Wells, 83, went to heaven surrounded by family on Sunday, Aug. 4, 2019. He was dedicated to his wife, children, grandchildren and all of his family. 

He was born April 29, 1936, in Houston to Frank and Gladys (Shofler) Wells. He grew up in Wichita and attended Wichita North High School. He excelled in baseball and won state championships in football and basketball. He earned a bachelor’s degree in Administration of Justice at Wichita State University and later earned a Master’s Degree in Family and Children Counseling from SUNY Plattsburg.  John spent 20 years working for the St. Francis Boy’s Home in Ellsworth, Kansas and Lake Placid N.Y. He moved back to Salina, Kansas to become the Interim National Director of the St. Francis Homes for Boys. He then became the Administrator of Presbyterian Manor, a Retirement Community in Newton, Kansas. Subsequently he was promoted to CEO of Presbyterian Manors of Mid-America.  He was then recruited, in 1988, to be the CEO of a new project in Wichita; Larksfield Place.  He worked there until retirement in 2004.

In his retirement he consulted for many organizations and served on many Board-of-Directors whose missions were dear to his heart including St. Francis Academy and Prairie View, Inc.  

On June 11, 1955 he married Shirley Ann Brock from Dodge City.  

He is survived by his wife in Wichita; a daughter Cari Ann Owens, Tulsa; a son John Joseph (Lora) Wells, Wichita; brother Donald (Leslie) Wells, Summerfield, Florida; grandchildren Katelyn Owens, Morgan (Hayden ) Stwalley and Devin Greenway.  

A Celebration of Life will be at 11 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 17, at Larksfield Place.

Memorials may be directed to St. Francis Ministries, Salina, or Larksfield Place, Wichita, in care of Kaufman Funeral Home, Halstead.

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