William Ervin Wells, Sr.
November 26, 1929 ~ February 15, 2019 (age 89) 89 Years Old
Tribute
William Ervin (Buddy) Wells, Sr., 89, of Salem, VA, went to be with our Lord and Savior on Friday, February 15, 2019. He is preceded in death by his parents, Charlie and Maude Wells; and sister, Martha (Janabee) Carper, of Beckley, WV.
Buddy is survived by his wife of 61 years, Mary; son, William Jr. (Billy) and his wife, Dayna ,of Salem; daughter, Melissa and her husband, Jay Dooley, of Salem; sisters, Donna Ratliff, Patty Woolwine and husband, Leroy, Jo Ellen McDaniel all of, Shawsville; brother, James (Burl) Wells and wife, Norma, of Elliston; grandchildren, Justin Dooley, Sydney Wells, Chelsea Wells Kirby and husband, Henry; and many loving nieces, nephews and extended family.
Buddy was a Korean War Veteran, having served in the United States Navy. He served aboard the USS Chikaskia, a fleet oiler in the Pacific Ocean.
Buddy was born and spent his youth in Amigo, WV, just south of Beckley. He received many honors as a high school baseball player. After serving in the Navy, he settled in the Salem area after the majority of his family relocated to the Shawsville area. He resided in the same home in the Glenvar community since 1961.
His work experience included stints with the City of Salem water department, as a carpenter for the city and the majority of his career as a route salesman for several dry cleaners in the Salem/Roanoke valley area. His career as a route salesman was perfect for his personality and the phrase “he never met a stranger” couldn’t have been more true. On many a Christmas he would come home in the work van, loaded with gifts from his appreciative customers.
Buddy had a passion for gardening and developed two very large gardens on the back side of the property. These gardens provided family and friends with many healthy and delicious foods over the years.
Buddy loved being a member of the Salem Wesleyan Church family and seldom missed a mid-week, Sunday morning or Sunday night service. He served the Lord and was a great role model for many with his Christian lifestyle. He was a deacon, Sunday School teacher and usher for many years. He was loyal and faithful to his church family and enjoyed helping them at their homes whenever needed.
Buddy was a jokester and throughout his lifetime brought joy and laughter to those around him. Anyone that spent time with him will smile when his name is mentioned and probably was on the receiving end of one of his pranks.
The family would like to thank the staff at Virginia Veterans Care Center for their assistance and companionship during Buddy’s residence there. The staff will have some good memories of their interaction with him. He entertained and brought joy to those in the dementia unit many days.
The family will receive friends 11 am to 12 noon, Saturday, February 23 at Lotz Funeral Home, 1330 East Main Street, Salem. The funeral service will take place from 12 noon to 1 pm, followed by burial at Cedar Lawn Memorial Park.
God's Garden
By Melissa Shreve
God looked around his garden,
And found an empty place.
He then looked down upon the earth,
And saw your tired face.
He put his arms around you,
And lifted you to rest;
God's garden must be beautiful-He always takes the best.
He knew that you were suffering,
He knew you were in pain;
He knew you would never get well on earth again.
He saw the road was getting rough
And hills were hard to climb
So he closed your weary eyelids, and whispered,
"Peace be thine."
It broke our hearts to lose you,
But you didn't go alone,
For a part of us went with you,
The day God called you home.
Buddy is survived by his wife of 61 years, Mary; son, William Jr. (Billy) and his wife, Dayna ,of Salem; daughter, Melissa and her husband, Jay Dooley, of Salem; sisters, Donna Ratliff, Patty Woolwine and husband, Leroy, Jo Ellen McDaniel all of, Shawsville; brother, James (Burl) Wells and wife, Norma, of Elliston; grandchildren, Justin Dooley, Sydney Wells, Chelsea Wells Kirby and husband, Henry; and many loving nieces, nephews and extended family.
Buddy was a Korean War Veteran, having served in the United States Navy. He served aboard the USS Chikaskia, a fleet oiler in the Pacific Ocean.
Buddy was born and spent his youth in Amigo, WV, just south of Beckley. He received many honors as a high school baseball player. After serving in the Navy, he settled in the Salem area after the majority of his family relocated to the Shawsville area. He resided in the same home in the Glenvar community since 1961.
His work experience included stints with the City of Salem water department, as a carpenter for the city and the majority of his career as a route salesman for several dry cleaners in the Salem/Roanoke valley area. His career as a route salesman was perfect for his personality and the phrase “he never met a stranger” couldn’t have been more true. On many a Christmas he would come home in the work van, loaded with gifts from his appreciative customers.
Buddy had a passion for gardening and developed two very large gardens on the back side of the property. These gardens provided family and friends with many healthy and delicious foods over the years.
Buddy loved being a member of the Salem Wesleyan Church family and seldom missed a mid-week, Sunday morning or Sunday night service. He served the Lord and was a great role model for many with his Christian lifestyle. He was a deacon, Sunday School teacher and usher for many years. He was loyal and faithful to his church family and enjoyed helping them at their homes whenever needed.
Buddy was a jokester and throughout his lifetime brought joy and laughter to those around him. Anyone that spent time with him will smile when his name is mentioned and probably was on the receiving end of one of his pranks.
The family would like to thank the staff at Virginia Veterans Care Center for their assistance and companionship during Buddy’s residence there. The staff will have some good memories of their interaction with him. He entertained and brought joy to those in the dementia unit many days.
The family will receive friends 11 am to 12 noon, Saturday, February 23 at Lotz Funeral Home, 1330 East Main Street, Salem. The funeral service will take place from 12 noon to 1 pm, followed by burial at Cedar Lawn Memorial Park.
God's Garden
By Melissa Shreve
God looked around his garden,
And found an empty place.
He then looked down upon the earth,
And saw your tired face.
He put his arms around you,
And lifted you to rest;
God's garden must be beautiful-He always takes the best.
He knew that you were suffering,
He knew you were in pain;
He knew you would never get well on earth again.
He saw the road was getting rough
And hills were hard to climb
So he closed your weary eyelids, and whispered,
"Peace be thine."
It broke our hearts to lose you,
But you didn't go alone,
For a part of us went with you,
The day God called you home.
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