Lewis Franklin Wells, 84, died Friday, October 15, 2004 at his home in Holladay where his family has lived for the past 45 years. He was born in Lakeview, Utah on August 6, 1920, the eldest son of George F. and Malicent Clegg Wells. He attended the old Vineyard School, then Lincoln High School in Orem, graduating in 1938. Following an LDS Mission to California, he married Helen Henrichsen in the Salt Lake LDS Temple on June 15, 1942. They became the parents of nine children. Lewis enlisted in the Army Air Force in 1942 and served through the end of World War II as a B-17 bomber pilot with the 95th Bomb group of the 8th Air Force in the European theater. He was awarded the Air Force medal, the Distinguished Flying Cross, the Air Medal with four Oak Leaf Clusters and recently, The Polish Cross for his participation in what he said was his best mission - the food drop over Warsaw in September of 1944 and continuing with the famous "Shuttle Mission" through Italy and France. After returning home, Lewis completed his education on the GI Bill, graduating from BYU in 1948 with a degree in petroleum geology. He worked for Sun Oil Co. in Salt Lake and Wyoming and was later involved in independent mining and oil exploration with his sons. He is survived by his widow, Helen Wells, and eight children: Lorna Rice ( Carl James) and Mary Lou Royle (Kenneth), California; L. Frank Wells Jr.(Kimberli Giauque), New Mexico; Ann Anderson (Stuart), Holladay; John (Joelyn Rowen) of Sandy; Paul (Jone Storey), Roosevelt; Steven (Patricia Hunsaker), New Mexico; and Janette Lewis (David) of Murray. He is also survived by sisters and brothers, Merlene Bailey, Provo, Leland J. Wells of Montana; William T. Wells of New Mexico and Wilda Larson of Richfield and by 33 grandchildren and 15 great grandchildren. His son LaMar, and grandson Brandon Wells, preceded him in death. Church service has included Sunday School Superintendent, Counselor in the Casper, Wyoming Branch Presidency and the West Central States Mission Presidency, Bishop' Counselor, Stake High Counselor, Gospel Doctrine Teacher and High Priests Group Leader. He was also a member of the Lion's Club for many years and an officer of the Holladay Chapter of the Sons of the Utah Pioneers. He also served a term as Mayor of Pleasant Grove. Services held Tuesday Oct 19, 2004 at the Holladay 28th Ward, 2625 Milo Way at 11:00 a.m. Interment in Holladay Memorial Cemetery.

Published in the Salt Lake Tribune on 10/17/2004.