Harold M. Wells, Jr.

Harold M. Wells, Jr., 88, of Miamisburg, Ohio, passed away on August 5, 2017. He was born on October 16, 1928, to the late Harold and Alice Wells in Dorchester, Massachusetts. Harold is preceded in death by the love of his life and wife of 43 years, Thelma Wells. He is survived by stepdaughter, Judy (Dwight) Doench; granddaughters, Lauren (Zeke) Isaacs; Shelly (John) Soter, and many other grandchildren, great grandchildren, and great great grandchildren who loved him very much.

Harold was a brilliant man and received his degree in Aeronautical Engineering from Saint Louis University and his Masters from the Air Force Institute of Technology. As a 1/Lt in the Air Force, he served as Project Officer, supervising the successful participation of a B-57B during nuclear weapons testing at Eniwetok-Bikini during Operation Redwing, 1956. At WPAFB, of his many accomplishments, he developed the first solid-state structural flight loads recorder, published the Aircraft Structural Integrity Program requirements, served as an advisor to NATO, was Chief Airframe Engineer for the F-111 and participated in the development of the advanced aerial refueling boom. After 30 years of devoted service to the structural integrity of aircraft, he retired from WPAFB as Chief Systems Engineer for the KC-10 and Deputy Director of Engineering for Airlift and Trainer Systems. He completed his career at Bell Helicopter in Fort Worth, TX.

Visitation will be held Thursday, August 10, 2017 at 12:00 p.m., with funeral services immediately following at 1:00 p.m. at Newcomer Funeral Home, 3940 Kettering Blvd., Kettering, Ohio. Burial will be at Hillgrove Cemetery, Miamisburg. In lieu of flowers, donations are suggested to the Alzheimer's Association.