Billy Clyde “Bill” Wells

Athens, WV

January 14, 1938 – May 8, 2026

Billy Clyde “Bill” Wells of Athens, WV passed away peacefully at his home on May 8, 2026. He was born on January 14, 1938, in Bells, Tennessee to the late Franklin and Margaret Marie Wells of the Walnut Hill Community of Bells.

“Billy” graduated from Bells High School where he was president of the Class of 1956. An outstanding athlete, his youth and high school years were filled with days of playing baseball and other sports with his brothers Don and Jerry and often his “baby sister” Lina. After graduation he enrolled at Murray State College (now University) where his natural leadership personality continued to thrive, he became a proud brother in Pi Kappa Alpha, and he received his B.S. and M.S. degrees. Bill later received his ABD at Indiana University making him an ardent Indiana Hoosier fan for life. It was also at Indiana University that Bill was first introduced to racquetball, igniting a love and passion for the sport that he carried and generously shared wherever life led him.

Bill’s ROTC commitment to the U.S. Army took him to Germany, his first introduction to international travel. Returning home he was an educator at Murray State and Colorado State University before his love of travel, and the outdoors brought him to Concord College (University) in 1981 where he taught Travel Industry Management until his retirement in 1998. While at Concord he and his wife Annie lead travel study programs multiple times to 8 different countries, believing such experiences to be education in its purest form.

Many of Bill’s happiest days were lived on his so beloved Kentucky Lake surrounded by his family, friends, dogs, and the beauty of the natural world. He reveled in days of gardening, teaching many so loved children to ski, fishing and telling fish tales, gentle boat rides exploring the coves of Kentucky Lake, watching birds and all of nature. Evenings serving as “The Captain” of his boat on “cruises” and enjoying a “splash” on the porch exchanging stories with his dear friend Joe Tom Erwin and others he loved were among his greatest pleasures.

Those left to cherish and carry Bill’s memory are his wife of almost 43 years Ann Meador Wells, his son Billy Clyde Wells, Jr, daughter Traci Louise Wells, his grandson Billy Clyde “B.C” Wells III (Lydia), granddaughter Madalyn Troy Wells (Kingston), and the mother of his children Jane Freeman Wells. Also, his sister-in-law Julia Tankersley Wells and his brother-in-law/sister-in-law Bill and Lottie Meador along with a host of nieces, nephews, great nieces and nephews, and friends that he so loved and will miss him fiercely.

In addition to his parents Bill was preceded in death by his brothers Paul Donald Wells and Jerry Franklin Wells and his sister Lina Wells Grammer and her husband Phil Grammer.

A memorial service and celebration reception for Bill will be held on Sunday, May 17 at University Point on the campus of Concord University in Athens. WV. Visitation will begin at 1:00 with his service beginning at 2:00 in the Wilkes Chapel, Rev. Craig Stout and Rev. Ed Pettus officiating. A reception and time of continued visitation with will follow the service in the Pais Fellowship Hall. Later this summer another celebration of Bill’s life will be held on the lakefront of his beloved Kentucky Lake.

In lieu of flowers the family asks that you remember Bill through kindness to the natural world and one another, donations of time or resources to any organization who holds this as its mission.

Online condolences may be shared with the family via www.memorialfd.com.

The Wells family is being served by the Memorial Funeral Directory and Cremation Center on Athens Road in Princeton.