|
| |
|
ROBERT "BOB" WELLS |
|
San Juan lost a dedicated Math Teacher.
Golf lost a dedicated Golf retiree.
Willa Dean lost her husband of 40 years.
S.J students lost a devoted math teacher.
Bob Wells passed away on Sunday, December 8, 2002. |
| Many of us were accustomed to Bob singing in the
choir of Christ Community Church on Manzanita Avenue near Madison in
Carmichael. He was on the prayer list due to his fight with cancer. It was a
severe shock to all of his friends when it was announced he had lost the
challenge and we were notified during the time of those in need of prayer.
Bob was born in Southgate, CA, on April 4, 1938. He served in the U.S. Army
in Huntsville, Alabama where he met and married Willa Dean. His teaching
career started in Huntsville, then he taught 4 years in Lynwood, CA and in
1968 the family moved to Carmichael, CA. Bob started teaching at San Juan in
the fall of 1968. His daughters, Deedie Poelman (Ken), Jean Black (Cade),
mother, Ethel Wells, sister, Virginia Young (Bill), identical twin brother,
Bill (Barbara) and grandchildren survive him. |
[click to enlarge]
1973 Yearbook
Mr. Robert Wells and Mrs. Yolanda Bouffard were
selected by S.J. Students & Faculty
"with honor and respect
two honest,
concerned individuals"
The 1973 yearbook edition was
Dedicated to Mr. Wells, with Special Recognition to Mrs. Bouffard |
| During his 36 years of teaching he received
many honors, including Sacramento County Teacher of the Year for Mathematics
and Citrus Heights Rotary Teacher of the Year. |
|
1970 Yearbook
[click to enlarge] |
A memorial service for Bob Wells was held at
Christ Community Church on Thursday, December 12, 2002. The large sanctuary
was filled to capacity with church members, San Juan teachers, the Wells
Family and their many friends and neighbors. The memorial service was filled
with tears and laughter. The source of both was a magnificent tribute to a
devoted Christian and Math Teacher. |
| Bob retired from San Juan High in 1998. He only
had a short 4 years to enjoy his most desired, relaxing sport, golf. His
friend and neighbor, Mike, came forth with humor that lifted all gloom at
the service. His identical twin brother, Bill, continued the humor with
stories about the twins pulling tricks on teachers and others due to their
deceiving appearances. The third person to speak was a past student of
Bob's, Kevin Edmondson, who is teaching at Antelope Crossing Middle School
in the Dry Creek School District.The review of guests at Bob's Memorial
Service listed Dave Terwilliger, current Principal at S.J. High, Roger
Riley, past Principal and retiree from SJ District Office, Sue Jobe and Jane
Stewart, past counselor and advisor to SJAA Scholarship Committee, and on
and on. The feast that followed allowed SJ teacher retirees, SJ Alumni,
church members, family and friends to visit and hash over the past when Bob
Wells was a prime participant in all the action. |
Willa Dean Wells conceived the idea that she would like to set up a
mathematics scholarship in honor of Bob's accomplishments. She mentioned
this fact in the obituary. It also included donations to the Cancer Society.
Donations were requested for the Bob Wells Mathematics Scholarship Fund to
establish a Math Scholarship in Bob's honor. The funds were to be mailed to
San Juan Alumni Association, P.O. Box 103, Citrus Heights, CA 95611-0103.
Checks may be made to the "Bob W ells Mathematics Scholarship Fund" or
directly made out to "San Juan Alumni Association" and mailed to same
address and noted for the fund in the lower left corner, so all funds will
be assigned and used for the purpose of this fund. In essence, this has
created a drive for San Juan High School personnel to assist Willa Dean
Wells and SJAA to locate a Senior Student from San Juan High School to meet
the criteria to disperse these funds properly. It will also be a challenge
for a graduating senior from San Juan to fill the shoes of one so enhanced
in promoting the future of mathematics in a technical world where this
subject is sorely needed. Thank you, Willa Dean! |
|
|
Copyright -
January 2003 - Spartan News |
|
This article was copied from the San Juan Alumni
Association's "Spartan News"
Tri-Annual Newsletter publication. We encourage you to join the San
Juan High School Alumni Association by emailing your request to
Diane Wadsworth-Woolley (Alumni
Representative). |
|
|
|
Return to Memorial Page |
|
Return
to Home Page |
|
