Gloucester – Col. Charles Howard Wells, M.D., 87, formerly of Hudson, died Wednesday April 27, 2011 at the Den-Mar Rehabilitation and Nursing Center in Rockport. He is survived by his wife, Marie (Bissonnette) Wells, and was predeceased by his first wife, Marie (Hubert) Wells, in 1977.
Born in Marshall, Minnesota, son of the late Vernon and Hetty (Hinckly) Wells, he was a retired colonel with the U.S. Army, serving as a medical doctor for 30 years until retiring in June 1976.
A graduate of Harvard Medical School, Dr. Wells got his start in medicine during World War II when he was one of 600 chosen out of 60,000 applicants to pursue the Army's wartime medical program. His first assignment as a medical officer was in Korea in 1950, and he also commanded a hospital in Vietnam. He retired as commander of the Cutler Army Hospital at Ft. Devens. He also served as Chief of Operations in the Surgeon General's Office.
Besides his wife, he is survived by his children, Charles H. Wells Jr. of New Hampshire, Craig H. Wells of Virginia and Christine H. Wells of Virginia, his step-children, Drew (Josephson) Williams of Manchester By The Sea and Ingrid (Josephson) Viventi of Foxboro; his siblings, Robert Wells of Alexandria, Va. and Wanda Freund of Minneapolis; and his many grandchildren, several great-grandchildren, and nieces and nephews. He was the brother of the late Helen Lubinski and Harold Wells and step-father to the late Paul Rzasa.
Funeral services were held May 2 from the Tighe-Hamilton Funeral Home of Hudson, with burial with Military Honors at Forestvale Cemetery in Hudson. For online condolences, visit www.tighehamilton.com.
