Bill R. Wells

Funeral services for Bill Wells, 84, of Lindale, will be 2:00 p.m. Saturday, March 9, 2019 at the Croley Funeral Home Chapel in Gladewater with Reverend Dave Hicks officiating. Interment will follow services at Gladewater Memorial Park. The family will receive friends Friday evening from 6:00 until 8:00 p.m. at the funeral home. Bill passed away on Monday, March 4, 2019, in Tyler.

Bill was born September 3, 1934 in Lindale, Texas to the Wallace Leroy Wells and Goldie Jewel Few Wells. Mr. Wells served in the United States Air Force Military Police, serving during the Korean War. Bill worked in law enforcement for several cities in East Texas until his retirement. Among those were Mineola, Tyler, Smith County Sheriff’s Department, Gladewater, Gilmer, where he served as Chief of Police, and Lindale. He was well respected by in the law enforcement community by his peers and helped to train many officers. Bill enjoyed telling stories, writing poetry, woodworking and genealogy. Bill was a loving and devoted husband, father, brother, grandfather and great grandfather. He will be truly missed by all those he leaves behind to cherish his memory.

Bill is survived by his wife of 44 years Diane Wells; four children Carl Lee Wells and wife Michelle, Leah Beth Cunningham, Linda Sue “Susie” Stephenson and husband Phillip, and Lance Allen Wells and wife Hyoyoung; four siblings Harold Wells, Larry Wells, Darla Dossett and Linda Fagan; numerous grandchildren, great grandchildren, great great grandchildren, nieces and nephews as well as many other loving family and friends.

He is preceded in death by his parents Wallace and Goldie Wells, son Thomas Leroy Wells, and daughter Janis Lynn Pierce.