Thomas Johnson Wells

Thomas Johnson Wells, M.D., M.P.H., a devoted family man, distinguished pediatrician, and decorated colonel in the U.S. Army Reserves, passed away peacefully on June 8, 2023 at the age of 83 in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Thomas was born on October 2, 1939 in Corning, New York, as the second son to Dr. Lewis E. and Mary J. Wells. Thomas grew up in Pennsylvania and Virginia with his parents and older brother, Dr. Charles L. Wells.

Thomas devoted his professional life to public health and service. Thomas earned his M.D. from the Medical College of Virginia in 1966 and continued with an internship and residency in Pediatrics. Following his residency, he joined the U.S. Army in 1969, serving in Darmstadt and Berlin, West Germany and continued military service with the Army Medical Corps reserve. During his distinguished military career, Thomas received numerous Meritorious Service Medals and the Legion of Merit, and held positions of increasing responsibility, including Hospital Commander, Brigade Commander and Chief of Preventative Medicine, 807th Medical Brigade, 90th Regional Support Command. Between active duty and the reserves, Thomas served for 30 years and achieved the rank of full colonel before his retirement in 2002.

Upon his return to the U.S., he completed a fellowship in Neonatology, and helped to set up Newborn Intensive Care Units in Lubbock, TX and Greensboro, NC. After obtaining a Master’s of Public Health from University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, he moved to Salt Lake City, Utah where he practiced at the University of Utah Hospital’s Neonatology Unit, and directed programs for Maternal and Child Health at the Utah State Health Department. Later he joined the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services in Region 6 to oversee federal grants for Maternal and Child Health as well as the Children's Health Insurance Program.

Thomas married Marianne L. Wells in 1983, and the two were blessed with forty wonderful years together. In his free time, Thomas was an avid fan of Pittsburgh professional sports teams, especially the Pirates, and enjoyed old movies, traveling the world with Marianne, studying history and genealogy, and spending time with his loving family and friends.

Thomas is survived by his wife, Marianne; his sons, Nathanial Wells and Aaron Lebenta (Lisa Lebenta); his daughter Bree Ann Murphy (Dominick Murphy); four grandchildren, Mehmo Murphy, Tucker Murphy, Eva Lebenta and Peyton Lebenta; and one ball loving dog, Harry.

A viewing followed by a service of remembrance for family and friends will be held at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, 261 South 900 East, Salt Lake City, Utah, on Friday, June 16, 2023, at 12:00 p.m. and then 1:00 p.m., followed by graveside ceremonies at Memorial Holladay Cemetery, 4900 South Memory Lane, Holladay, Utah.