Gail Ann Wells, age 88, of Beavercreek, passed away October 1, 2023. Gail was born in New Milford, Connecticut on October 30, 1934, to the late Harry and Alice Kennel.
Gail was preceded in death by her parents; her brother Tom Kennel, and her daughter Denine Wells Steinmetz.
She is survived by her husband, J Stuart Wells; sons John (Tammy) Wells, Thomas (Cynthia) Wells; and daughters Kathy Wells, Debra (Jonathan) Miller, and Wendy Wells. She is also survived by 16 grandchildren and 23 great-grandchildren.
Gail graduated from Western Connecticut State College and taught science for ten years before attending seminary and becoming an ordained minister in the United Church of Christ. She served as co-pastor with her husband, Stuart, for three different congregations. They also served as interim co-pastors for six other congregations, often serving two different congregations as co-pastors at the same time. She loved to travel and spent a three-month sabbatical partially in Great Britain and then living with a pastor and his family in Germany.
Gail loved to quilt and knit and do needlework. She created quilts for many members of her family. One daughter is planning to complete the final section of the quilt she was working on at the time of her death.
Kathy, her oldest child suffered severe brain damage while in the hospital suffering from spinal meningitis. While she stayed in the family home until she was eight years old, she became a ward of the State of Connecticut and now lives in a group home in Torrington. It says something about Gail's character, that she chose to adopt a child who would otherwise never have been adopted. Her daughter, Denine, and her husband died several years ago but are survived by one of Gail's grandsons.
There will be a memorial service on October 21, 2023, to be held at David's United Church of Christ, 170 W. David Road; Kettering, OH. The service will begin at 10:00 a.m. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made to Heifer International, an organization that seeks to end hunger and poverty by supplying individuals with livestock. Their address is: 1 World Avenue; Little Rock, AR 72202