Helen Wells
November 30, 2011
Wells, Helen, 88, homemaker, passed away Wednesday, November 30, 2011. A private service will be held. Helen was born in Colby, KS to Charles and Mary Jones. She moved to Garden City in 1938 and graduated from high school in 1941. She married Russell Wells in 1943. Helen was the first woman employed by the Garden City Police Department when she worked as a dispatcher while Russell was in the Army. She later worked as a secretary at Trinkle, Calihan and Tate for a few years before becoming a full time housewife. Helen was a devoted mother and wife, and enjoyed her years spent as a Cub Scout den mother, a Sunday School teacher at First United Methodist Church, and a Gray lady at St. Catherines Hospital. Her love of cooking inspired her to compile a cookbook which she shared with family and friends. Helen was a member of Estralita Federated Club, and an afternoon bridge club that played weekly for over fifty years, and the FBI, a social club of special high school friends who kept in touch for seventy years. Helen was preceded in death by her parents, her husband and brothers, Dale and Rex Jones. Survivors are sons, Jim Wells of Wichita, Marlin Wells (Michelle) of Garden City and Chuck Wells (Debbie) of Eau Claire, WI; daughter, Bandi Labidi of Nabeul, Tunisia; grandchildren, Nacim, Zaid and Bilel Labidi of Wichita, Maryse Wells of Anchorage, AK, Brian Wells of Anoka, MN, Darcy Wells of Emporia, KS, and Mark and Todd Wells of Wichita; 3 great-grandchildren and 1 on the way; brothers, Max Jones of Kansas City and Van Jones of Springfield, VA. Memorials to: First United Methodist Church, 1106 N. Main, Garden City, KS, 67846 and the American Cancer Society, 818 N. Emporia, S-100, Wichita, KS, 67214. Downing Lahey Mortuary East.
A private service will be held.
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Please accept our deepest condolences for your family’s loss.
I met your mother at Andover Care Center while visiting my mother. I noticed Helen ate very little and always left her desert. One day I teased her about leaving her desert, she replied ‘ I’m full’, I told her to eat it first, she saw humour in that. After that we always joked at meal time about eating desert first. I’m very sorry for your loss, she was a gracious lady.
To the family of Helen Wells – I am so sorry to hear of the passing of your Mom. Your Mom and Dad spent many happy times with Fred & Louise – my mom and dad. She will be missed, I know. I remember Helen from the time I took flute lessons from Bandi. I didn’t realize at that time that our parents were such good friends. Know that I will keep you all in my toughts and prayers. As fate often times does things, Mom passed yesterday (12/4/1). I know the two of them (& probably Russell & Dad) will start up a bridge game soon. Catch a hug……. Caroline (Stoeckly) Wahlborg
Clicked too soon to leave an email address with the previous tribute. My apologies, and once again, my sympathies are with you.
To the family of Helen Wells, my sincere condolences. Helen was a favorite cousin of my mother, Julia Rupp (daughter of Helen’s Aunt Sylvia Jones Kleinhans). I met your mother/grandmother at a couple of Jones family funerals and once, memorably, she came to celebrate my mother’s birthday at my home in Wichita. I remember her as witty and fun to be with, and I understood exactly why my mother liked her so much. I hope all of your memories of her are happy ones.