George William Wells

George William Wells, 83, of Columbia, South Carolina, peacefully passed away on Thursday, November 5, 2015, surrounded by his loving family.  A graveside service for Mr. Wells will be held on Monday, November 9, 2015, at 1:00 pm at Fort Jackson National Cemetery, with Rev. Steve McCormick officiating. The family will receive friends immediately following the graveside service from 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm at Asbury Memorial United Methodist Church, 1005 Asbury Drive, Columbia, SC 29209. 

Mr. Wells was born in Winnsboro, South Carolina, on November 10, 1931, and was the youngest child of Elijah Osborne Wells and Hattie Bell Harmon Wells.  While attending Mt. Zion High School, Mr. Wells was a star athlete in three sports and enjoyed each sport to its fullest.  He was a veteran of the United States Navy and a graduate of the University of South Carolina with a bachelor’s degree in Education. During and after college, he worked at Epworth Children’s Home in Columbia in the recreation department and truly enjoyed working with the young children.  He was a former referee for football and basketball with the South Carolina High School League.  Coach Wells was employed with the Richland County School District and worked at Hand Middle School as a Physical Education teacher as well as being an assistant coach at Dreher High School and A.C. Flora High School.  Mr. Wells was retired from the South Carolina Department of Juvenile Justice. He was a member of Asbury United Methodist Church. 

Mr. Wells enjoyed playing golf with family and friends. He attended The Masters in Augusta, GA and the Heritage, in Hilton Head, SC over several years. A loyal USC Gamecock Club member since 1960, he proudly attended countless men’s and women’s athletic events, including a trip to the College World Series in Omaha, Nebraska, with his daughter, Pam. 

Mr. Wells is survived by his wife of fifty-nine years, Mary Boulware Wells of Columbia, two daughters and son-in-laws, Pamela Wells Cain (John) of Lexington, SC and Paula Wells Renaker (David) of Hilton Head Island, SC and two grandchildren, Corey Samuel Renaker and Julie Elizabeth Renaker, both of Hilton Head Island, SC; a brother, Reuben Wells of Dublin, GA; and many relatives in South Carolina, North Carolina, Georgia, Tennessee, Alabama, Florida, Mississippi, and Texas.  He is preceded in death by his parents, his brother and sister-in-law, Elijah Osborne Wells, Jr. and Sara Douglas Wells of Tennessee, his sister and brother-in-law, Mae Wells Black and Louis Black of North Charleston, SC, his sister and brother-in-law, Katherine Wells Mode and Harvey Mode of Winnsboro, SC, and his loving dogs Zero, Cricket, Brittany, and Bo.

The family wants to thank the staff of NHC HealthCare Parklane and Palmetto Health Richland for their compassionate care for Mr. Wells.  

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Epworth Children's Home (2900 Millwood Ave, Columbia, SC 29205), or to the Riverbanks Zoo and Garden (500 Wildlife Parkway, Columbia, SC 29210), or a charity of one's choice.

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