Eugene Tate Wells

Eugene Tate Wells, 88, died Tuesday, April 17th in Blue Springs. He was born on May 10, 1918 to Tate and Mary Virginia Little Wells of Blue Mountain, MS, making him an American by birth and a Southerner by the grace of God.
Gene received his Bachelor�s degree from Memphis State University, Master�s Degree from Washington University in St. Louis, and his PhD from the University of Kansas in 1951. After enlisting in the Navy during World War II, he earned a direct commission and served on Admiral Nimitz� staff at Pearl Harbor. He retired from the Naval Reserves in 1978 as a Lieutenant Commander. In 1944, he married Rita Faye Miller of Memphis, TN, and they had two daughters.
After completing his schooling, Gene went to work in private industry, but he later began government service with the Department of Defense. Holding positions at the Executive level, he served as Chief of Long Range Programming for the Army Materiel Command and Chief of Central Technical Operations for the Army Chief of Staff. He never lost his love of learning and teaching, and was an adjunct professor of management at American University; the U.S. Naval Academy; the University of Virginia, where he was named Teacher of the Year in 1973; and a professor emeritus at Central Missouri State University. He served the Lord in many ways, including pastoring Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints congregations in VA and MO.
Gene, Rita, and their extended family loved traveling together. They visited almost 50 countries�many, more than once�and he and Rita flew around the world in 1983. Gene�s warmth and genuine interest in people transcended culture and language, allowing him to make and keep friends throughout the world.
Gene was preceded in death by his parents; brother, Jamie Wells; and two sisters, Arkie Conway and Avis Epting. He is survived by his wife of 63 years, Rita; daughter Dr. Rigena Wells Nordyke, of Albuquerque, NM and her husband, Gary; daughter Dr. Deborah Wells Clark of Blue Springs and her husband Philip; grandchildren Sabrina, Dawn, and Matthew; and adopted family Kirk, Carol, Kelly, Mike, Kyle, and Katie Cochran.
The funeral will take place at 2:00 pm Saturday, April 21st at Speaks Suburban Chapel. Visitation will take place one hour prior to the service at the funeral home. Interment will take place at a later date at Arlington National Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family requests contributions to the American Cancer Society.