SOUTH HUTCHINSON - Richard Junior Wells, 88, died February 2, 2012, at Mennonite Manor, South Hutchinson.

He was born March 30, 1923, in Hutchinson, Kansas, the son of Richard Ival and Mary Reed Wells. A lifetime area resident, wintering in Texas for 20 years, he was a firefighter with the Hutchinson Fire Department and was Assistant Chief. Along with his wife Bonnie, he worked at the Kansas State Fair for 37 years as a ticket taker at the gates and at the grandstand. He served in the U.S. Army during World War II as a military policeman.

On March 30, 1941, he married Bonnie Emeline Wilson, who died January 7, 2007.

Other survivors include: two sons, Richard L. and his wife Carol of Fulshear, Texas, and Gary L. and his wife Teresa of Ankeny, Iowa; two daughters, Carol S. Burt of Columbus, Ohio, and Janet K. Herrera and her husband Rudy of Rancho Mirage, Calif.; 11 grandchildren, Richard B. Wells (spouse Pam), Marble, Colo., David Wells (spouse Sakari), Scottsdale, Ariz., Amanda Wells, Las Vegas, Nev., Austin Wells, San Marcos, Tex., Carla Brown (spouse Bryan), Louisville, Ky., Renee Spiegel, Columbus, Oh., Aaron Wells (spouse Shana), Danville, Calif., Jon Wells (spouse Colleen), Saint Louis, Mo., Hayleigh Herrera, Rancho Mirage, Calif., Keaton Herrera, Rancho Mirage, Calif., Colby Urban, Fontana, Calif.; 13 great-grandchildren, Crystal Tapp, Marble, Co., Austin Fridley, Anderson, Ind., Stephan Brown, Louisville, Ky., Chloe Brown, Indianapolis, Ind., Elijah Spiegel, Columbus, Oh., Claudia Spiegel, Columbus, Oh., Brett Wells, Saint Louis, Mo., Matt Wells, St. Louis, Mo., Nathan Wells, Saint Louis, Mo., Isaac Urban, Fontana, Calif., Tristen Urban, Fontana, Calif., Makayla Urban, Fontana, Calif., Gillian Urban, Fontana, Calif., Zachary Wells, Des Moines, Iowa; also very special friends, Barb Roark and her husband Tim, and their two sons, Tyler and Tanner.

He was preceded in death by his parents; wife Bonnie; brothers, Gene and Don; sister, Nadine and Patty; son-in-law, Carlton Burt, and a granddaughter, Jackie Argo.

Dick Wells was beloved by countless people. His wit and good-natured humor endeared him to others and his kindhearted and honorable ways earned him the respect and admiration of all who knew him.

Funeral service will be 2:00 p.m. Monday, Feb. 6, 2012, at Elliott Mortuary, Hutchinson, with Ron Ogle presiding. Visitation will be from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday, also at Elliott Mortuary, with the family present from 2 to 4 p.m. Memorials may be made to Mennonite Manor, in care of the mortuary. Please visit www.elliottmortuary.com to leave a personal message for Dick's family.