John Charles Wells

John Wells of Hendersonville, NC passed away on October 30, 2022. He was born in Grand Forks, ND on 1/18/1936 to the parents Thurston Kohler and Irene Wurzbacher Wells. He is survived by his wife Bonnie Young Wells of 62 years of marriage and children Victoria Overbeck (David White), Barry Wells (Sherry), Ted Wells (Cathy), and granddaughter Emily Wells.

As a teenager, John loved sports, but an injury halted his athletic participation, so he turned to athletic training which later became a career passion. He worked his way through college as an athletic trainer receiving a Bachelor of Science Degree from Valparaiso University in 1960 and then certification for physical therapy in 1961 at Herman Hospital in Houston, Texas. After years working as a physical therapist in hospital settings, John went back to graduate school at Indiana University earning a Master’s Degree and a Doctorate Degree in Health Education with emphasis in athletic training. His doctoral dissertation was entitled, “Improving the Health Status of Blind, Developmentally Disabled Children Through Adapted Physical Education.” Upon graduation in 1971, John taught health classes at LSU and served as Athletic Trainer for the LSU Laboratory School.

In 1978 John moved to NC with the family to set up an athletic training program at Mars Hill University and then later at UNCA. He was a member of the National Athletic Trainers Association for over 50 years and had served as chairman of their drug education program.

Just before retirement in 2001, John worked in home health care with Visiting Health Professions and Care Partners of Buncombe County.

A member of the Hendersonville Road Show ARC, John was an active amateur radio operator with call letters KA4DKB.

For many years, John had been a devoted member of Mars Hill United Methodist Church and, most recently, Grace Lutheran Church when the family moved to Hendersonville.

Friends are invited to a “celebration of life” drop-in gathering for John on Saturday, December 10, 2022, from noon until 2 pm in the Grace Lutheran Fellowship Hall.

In lieu of flowers donations can be made to Interfaith Assisted Ministry www.iam-hc.org/donate.