Jacob J. Wells, 96, died peacefully at his home on Friday, Nov. 10, 2017.
He was raised as one of nine children born to Robert L. Wells, Sr. and Mary Caroline Wells on a strawberry farm in Teachey, N.C. In 1942 he volunteered for the United States Navy and served as a petty officer first class aviation machinist during World War II. While stationed at the Naval Air Station in Lake City, Fla., he met and later married Mable Elizabeth Wells. After the war ended, he returned to raise his family in Callahan.
He entered civil service in 1946 and retired as an operations analyst for the Naval Air Rework Facility (NARF) at NAS in Jacksonville, achieving a level of GS 12 after 35 years of service. He was an active member of the Callahan First United Methodist Church, the Callahan Masonic Lodge, the Morocco Shriners and the Scottish Rite. Farming remained in his blood, however, so as a hobby he raised beef cattle and grew corn planted in what people noticed and remarked as being "the straightest rows around" to feed his small herd.
He was preceded in death by his wife of 68 years, Mable W. Wells, and infant son, Jacob J. Wells, Jr. He is survived by one sister, Crystal Caroline Johnson of Rose Hill, N.C.; two daughters, Mary Cynthia (Jack) Massie of Ocala and Donna Elizabeth (Ed) MacMillan of Callahan; five grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.
Visitation was held on Monday evening, Nov. 13, 2017 from 6 -8 p.m. at Callahan Funeral Home. Funeral services were held at the Callahan First United Methodist Church at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 14, 2017. Interment followed in Jones Cemetery in Callahan.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests that memorial contributions may be made in the name of Jacob J. Wells to the Alzheimer's Foundation of America or Community Hospice and Palliative Care.
Callahan Funeral Home handled the arrangements.