Donald Glenn Wells Sr.

It is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of Donald Glenn Wells, Sr. of Paducah, Kentucky on Friday, December 27, 2024, with his family by his side at the Ray and Kay Eckstein Hospice Care Center at Mercy Health in Paducah, Kentucky.

Donald was born on Saturday, August 24, 1935, in Grand Rivers, Kentucky, to his parents, Louise and Newman Wells. Don, as he was known by others, had lived a long, rich life filled with love and dedication to his family, friends and community.

Don was a 1954 graduate of Augusta Tilghman High School and Murray State University where he received a Bachelor of Science degree in1971, a Masters of Science degree in 1973 and Rank 1 in School Administration in 1976.

Don was a member of Rosebower Baptist Church in Paducah, KY.

His passion for education led him to a rewarding twenty-nine year career in the Ballard County School District, where he served as the district’s first Industrial Arts teacher at Ballard Memorial High School from 1971 thru1977. In the classroom, Don was an innovative educator,  who inspired young minds to develop life long skills in day to day life. The greatest complement any teacher can receive  is hearing former students say, “I learned how to do this in Mr. Wells’s class in high school.”  On January 1, 1978, Don left the classroom to become the first principal of the Ballard County Area Vocational School, a position he was honored to fill until his retirement in July 2000.  He also served as interim principal at  Ballard Memorial High School during the 1999-2000 school year. Throughout his tenure as a teacher and a principal,  Don contributed to the personal growth of countless students and teachers at Ballard County Area Vocational School and Ballard Memorial High School.
 
Beyond his professional life, Donald held the distinct honor of being recognized by Governor Julian Carroll as a Kentucky Colonel for his service and dedication to the students in the Ballard County School District.

Don had many interests and hobbies. He enjoyed playing  his acoustic guitar and heading to Poplar Creek to fish or  hit the links for a round of golf with his younger brother, Norris. In his younger days, Don enjoyed riding horses.  Suzy, his first horse, was a white, swayback plow horse that his father-in-law purchased from a neighbor.  Wanting a horse with a little more spark, Don purchased the two year old Tennessee Walker named Blackjack.  He and Blackjack would compete in local horse shows in the area. Together they would collect well over one hundred trophies and ribbons in the category of Western Rack.  In the Fall, Don frequently accompanied a friend beagling and was also known to head to the Clark’s River Bottoms  with his son to listen to the spirited run of Glenn’s Walker Hounds as the moon was coming up.  
Don leaves behind  his devoted wife of 68 years, Emma Lou Wells, whom he first saw from far across the gymnasium at a boys high school basketball game at Lone Oak High School in February of 1955.  They were married on June 4, 1956, at the First Baptist Church in Union City, Tennessee.

Don is also survived by his son, Donald Glenn Wells, Jr. of Benton, KY; and his daughter, Mary Anne Wells-Farmer (Steve) of Paducah, KY; his four grandchildren, Donald Glenn Wells, III (Samantha) of Benton, KY;  Madalyn Farmer of Paducah, KY; Matthew Farmer of Paducah, KY and Ashley Kelly of Gallatin, TN.; his nieces Penny Wells of Lexington, KY; Heather Jolly of  Nicholasville, KY; his nephew, Mark Wells of Hendersonville, TN; four great-grandchildren; a great-great niece; a great-great-nephew and  numerous cousins. 
Donald was preceded in death by his parents, Louise McDonald Wells and Newman U. Wells; and brother, Norris D. Wells.

Funeral services will be conducted on January 3, 2025, at Hughes Funeral Home in Paducah KY with long time friend Whitey Elliot and Rev. Kenneth Puckett officiating. 
Friends may call from 1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. until the funeral hour on January 3 at Hughes Funeral Home, located at 2579 Old Husband Road, Paducah, KY.  

A private burial will be conducted at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, the family respectfully requests that donations be made to: The American Cancer Society, P.O. Box 6704, Hagerstown, MD 21741 or by calling 800-227-2345 or Rosebower Baptist Church, 1120 Tyree Road, Paducah, Kentucky, 42003.
 
You may leave a message of sympathy or light a memorial candle at www.hughesfuneral.com.
 
Hughes Funeral Home of Paducah is in charge of arrangements.