AUGUSTA – Rev. Arthur Walter Wells, 80, of Augusta, formerly of Wilton, died on Saturday morning, Dec. 13, 2014, at the Maine Veteran’s Home, Augusta, where he had been a resident for five years.
He was born on May 7, 1934, in East Dixfield, one of nine children of Vance and Bernice (Reed) Wells, Sr. He was a 1953 graduate of Wilton Academy where he excelled in sports, played in the school band and was employed part-time at his family’s business, W. S. Wells and Son, and at the Wilson Lake Country Club.
He was a veteran, having served in the U.S. Army during the Korean Conflict. He continued his education at the University of Maine, Orono, graduating in 1960.
Mr. Wells was a highly respected educator, and began his 25-year career as a teacher at Wiscasset High School. During his first teaching assignment in Wiscasset he met and in 1963 married, Konni Chase. Together they raised five children and although Arthur and Konni were divorced in 1983, they remained friends throughout his life.
Next they moved to Strong, where he assumed a position as both a teacher and the school’s principal. It was during his employment in Strong that he pursued his first of two master’s degrees at UMO. A brief hiatus from teaching in the classroom led to a position as a 4-H agent for the cooperative Extension Service in Belfast. He returned to the traditional classroom in the Rockland school district where he also was the school’s golf coach.
After earning his master’s degree in education, he and his young family moved to Sherman Mills where he served as principal of the new Katahdin High School before being named as principal of York High School. His first position as superintendent of schools was in Ashland at which time he and his family moved to Masardis. He retired from his career in education as superintendent for the combined schools of Holden, East Eddington, Clifton, Amherst and Aurora, and to complete the 25-year mark, assumed a position as a guidance counselor and teacher at Rangeley High School. Although he was offered the position of superintendent, he needed to satisfy his calling into the ministry.
While living in Bangor, he was an active member of the Hammond Street Congregational Church, United Church of Christ. It was during his years in Bangor that Arthur began his interest in the Unity Church and its affirming message of God’s great love for all of God’s beloved children in the world. He followed his calling of ministry and moved to Lee’s Summit, MO., where he served as the director of personnel at Unity Village and earned his Master’s of Divinity at the Unity School of Christianity and became an ordained Unity minister.
He served the Unity Church of Albany, N.Y. for 10 years, retiring in 2000 and soon thereafter, because of declining health, returned to his beloved home of Maine to be closer to family. He continued his efforts in pastoral ministry and occasional preaching at the various assisted living facilities. He loved to write and preach positive, affirming services that were in keeping with the values of the Unity Church.
Over his lifetime, his hobbies included woodworking, gardening, reading, writing and playing golf. Though he no longer could play his trombone, he could still enjoy music and its calming effects. His family is grateful for the care he received at the Veterans’ Home in Augusta and take comfort in knowing that he is at peace. In part, his legacy is about being an honorable, open-minded, fearless, life-long learner.
He is survived by his loving children: Alan J. Wells and his daughter Jocelynn and granddaughter Lilly of Edgecomb; Jeffrey V. Wells and his wife, Allison and son Evan of Gardiner; Susan H. Winkler and her husband, David and daughters Heather and Jessica of Bangor; Timothy L. Wells of Portland and daughters Meaghan and Kerry, Andrew I. Roth-Wells and his wife, Nina and their children Emma and Chase of Georgetown; the mother of his children: Rev. Constance (Konni) Wells of Damariscotta; two brothers: Vance Wells Jr. and his wife, Ree of Lincolnville and Dean Wells and his wife, Jeannine of Wilton; one sister: Shirley Strain and her husband, Robert of Zephyr Hills, Florida, many nieces, nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews.
He was predeceased by siblings: Joan Wells, Judy Wells, Robert Wells, Constance (Connie) Scherpf and Adrian “Butch” Wells.
Family and friends are invited to memorial visitation on Friday Jan. 9 from noon until 2 p.m. at the Wiles Remembrance Center, 136 High St., Wilton. Memorial services will be held at the Center at 2 p.m. Following services, a reception with light refreshments will be held at the Center; all are welcome. Public memorial graveside services, with full military honors, will be held Wednesday May 20 at 11 a.m. at Lakeview Cemetery, Wilton.
Remembrance gifts may be given to either the Alzheimer’s Association of Maine 383 US Rte. One #2C Scarborough, ME 04074; or the American Diabetes Association Box 10310 Portland, ME 04104. Tributes and condolences may be shared on his memorial wall at www.wilesrc.com.
