Richard Leroy Wells

From the humble beginning of a traveling carnival wagon, Richard Leroy Wells, second son of Thomas and Rachel Moss Wells, was born. The date was August 23, l932 in the midst of the great depression. Richard was energetic, rough and tumble, full of life. He walked out of his childhood with a wounded heart.

He attended school in Omaha, Nebraska where he met his sweetheart, Dolores Wood Wells. They were married after high school on November 28, 1952. He served our country in the U.S. Coast Guard in New London, Connecticut. He enjoyed the Coast Guard and made lifelong friends there. Richard was blessed by his first of four children, a daughter Cindy. Two years later, a son Richard, Jr., almost two years later, a son Tom, and after another two years, a second daughter Terrisa. They also had one child who was ushered home while in Dolores' womb.

After the Coast Guard, he and Dolores returned home to Omaha, Nebraska. Richard worked for awhile at Ford Motor Company alongside one of his dearest friends and brother-in-law Bob Goldsmith. Richard followed in his father's footsteps and began working in the carnival business. He was a very successful business man. After working 33 years as owner and operator of Wells Amusements, he accepted the position of Games Director at the great State Fair of Texas. The State Fair of Texas became his passion. In the midst of a sometimes corrupt environment, he tried to do what was fair and right by his customers. He faithfully and fairly guided its management for 15 years before retiring in 2007. He was a very generous man and one you could call on in a time of trouble. He was known as saying, "if you have a problem that can be fixed by money, then it's not a problem." He stuck by those words all his life and helped many people in times of financial need. His family was always first and foremost in his life. He sacrificed and saved feverously so that he could provide fully for their needs as well as the needs of others.

His most important journey began in 1968, when he met his truest of loves Jesus Christ. With the help of the Lord and his godly wife Dolores, he began his journey with God. He continued to struggle with the Lord all of his life (as we all do), in many ways seeing the Lord much as he saw his earthly father. Richard's struggle with the Lord ended as he was welcomed into his truest of homes. He is now alive in a way we can only imagine. Richard's journey has only begun. He now understands God's love. He is free from all the things that bound him to this world. He is free from all the sin, wickedness, and all the wounds of this life. To know Richard was to know how his eyes sparkled (the first thing his wife noticed about him before they even started dating). Wow, how those eyes must be sparkling now.

He came into this world in a wooden travel trailer and left this world in a home many would call a mansion. But a few days ago he entered into the home that Jesus has been preparing for him for about 2000 years. This home is unique and perfect for Richard in every way, even in ways he could not imagine until he saw it for himself. Richard's health began deteriorating in 2003 with a massive heart attack, followed by debilitating Parkinson's disease. He fought so hard to stay with his family here on earth until the Lord called him up into glory on January 12, 2010. He suffers no more, but we that are left have an empty hole in our hearts. Richard is survived by his precious and devoted wife of 57 years, Dolores Wells, his older brother Tom Wells and" little sister" Sally Wells Davis and their families. His children, Cindy Threet, Richard Wells, Tom Wells and Terrisa Quinn. Sons in law, David Threet and Ken Quinn and daughter in law, Mitzi Wells. The grandchildren include, Chelsea Archer, Summer Threet, Taylor Wells, Ryan Wells, Johnathon Wells, Kristinia Wells, Tom Wells, Danyelle Wells and Chloe Quinn. His great-grandchildren are Sterling Threet, Zoe Wells, Johnathon Wells, Alexander Wells and Morrison Wells. The patriarch and rock of the Wells family will rest at Fitzhugh Cemetery in Lucas, Texas until the trumpet sounds and his body will rise imperishable to meet our Lord in the air. Until then Richard's strength, wisdom, guidance, encouragement, generosity, perseverance, presence, laughter and loving arms will be desperately missed by all of us.

The family will receive friends at Allen Family Funeral Options on Friday, January 15, 2010 from 6-8 p.m. We will celebrate Richard's life at a service on Saturday, January 16, 2010 at 1:00 p.m. at Plano Bible Chapel, 1900 Shiloh Rd., Plano, Texas 75074. Memorials may be made in Richard's name to Texas Voice Project for Parkinson Disease, www.texasvoiceproject.org or 469-375-6500