James J. Wells

James J. Wells left this world on January 7, 2012 at age 88. Mr. Wells was born on October 17, 1923 in Bristols Hope, Conception Bay, Newfoundland. He was the only son of Annie Maria Wells and Walter Wells. On December 15, 1942, during World War II he enlisted in the U.S. Navy. His boot camp training was at Great Lakes Naval Station in Michigan. He was then assigned to the Naval Radio Operator School at the University of Wisconsin and graduated from there on Sept. 27, 1943. From there he was sent for advance training at Noroton Heights, Connecticut.After graduation from advanced radio training he taught the Morse Code at the Brooklyn Navy Yard in Brooklyn, New York. He was later assigned to convoy duty as a naval radio operator with the Armed Guard.His first convoy was Nov. 18, 1943 to April 4, 1944 from New York to Iran Persian Gulf and returned to New York aboard the Liberty Ship S.S. Frederick H. Newell. His second convoy was Sept. 28, 1944 to Dec. 21, 1944 from Baltimore, Maryland to Naples, Italy via Auguste, Sicily, Piambino and Leghorn and returned via Algiers and Oran to the port of New York aboard the Liberty ship S.S. Joseph Leidy. The third convoy was Feb. 4, 1945 to March 20, 1945 from Philadelphia, PA. to New York to Cherbourg, France and returned via the English channel to the Solent Isle of Wight and then to New York aboard the Liberty ship S.S. Joseph Leidy.His fourth and final convoy was April 8, 1945 to June 2, 1945 from New York to Antwerp, Belgium and returned via the Downs, England, LeHavre, France to the Isle of Wight to Boston, MA aboard the Liberty ship S.S. Joseph Leidy.Mr. Wells finished his naval career as a first class radio operator aboard the U.S.S. Papago, a fleet tug, for the period October 3, 1945 to March 18, 1946. The Papago was stationed at St. George in Bermuda and the sole purpose was to rescue ships in distress. Mr. Wells spent a total of 15 months at sea and saw his share of torpedo and aircraft action.After his service in the Navy, James was employed by Ernest Nixon Insurance. This later was named the John P. Nixon Insurance Agency, followed by John P. Nixon Insurance, Inc. Mr. Wells was an officer of the corp. and retired on Oct. 1, 1994 after being with them 48 years. He loved the insurance business and John P. Nixon, Sr. was his mentor.Mr. Wells leaves a married son, James J. Wells, Jr. of Woburn, MA U.S. Army retired, no children, a married son, Ronald B. Wells of Cooper City, FL, a Police Sgt., and two grandsons, William Christopher Wells and Robert James Nowland Wells. Also a married daughter, Carol Elaine Miller of Roslyn, PA, a secretary in the Science Dept. at La Salle University in Philadelphia and two granddaughters, Jane Leslie Miller and Lisa Anne Miller. He also leaves his sister Marjorie L. Dacko of Everett, MA, and last but not least, the love of his life, Nancy B. Hemmerich with whom he had spent 30 most enjoyable years. Between them they have six children and fourteen grandchildren.James was a long-time member of the Newport Congregational Church, 73 Pehlam St., Newport, RI, and his Masonic Lodge in Everett, MA.Jim has asked that his remains be returned to his place of birth by being cremated and his ashes scattered in the ocean at Conception Bay in Newfoundland, and on the land of his birth, at the old homestead.Funeral services will be held on Thursday, January 12, at 11:00 a.m. in Memorial Funeral Home, 375 Broadway, Newport, RI.