Obituary of James A. Wells

James A. Wells James A. Wells, 81, of Rome, passed away, with his family by his side on Monday, December 7, 2015 at Kindred Clear Lake Hospital in Texas after a brief illness. He was born in Jacksonville, Florida on December 14, 1933 the son of Angus and Catherine (Bagley) Wells. As a young boy, he and his family moved to Phenix City, Alabama. Jim graduated from St. Patrick's Catholic School in Phenix City. He was in the U.S. Air Force and was stationed at Griffiss Air Force Base in Rome, NY, where he met his future wife, Barbara Galluppi. Jim & Barbara were married on July 6, 1957 at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church and had a blessed union of 58 years. Jim was a master craftsman in sheet metal and wood working and was respected by his peers. He was employed as a sheet metal worker with Finster Brothers in Rome NY and then later with Pulver Roofing Co. in Utica, NY, where he retired in 1989. Through the years, Jim worked on just about every building, church, & school in the Rome/Utica area including making the cross at St. John the Baptist Church Rectory. As a wood worker, Jim crafted his kitchen cabinets, a roll top desk, a canoe, a rocking horse, and many toys for his grandchildren. Jim & Barbara liked to travel and took several trips including a month long road trip across the United States, weekend trips to New England, overseas travel to several countries in Europe and many Sunday drives. Surviving besides his wife Barbara are his daughter and her husband, Sharon & Mark Ehmry and his grandchildren, Katelyn & Aaron Ehmry, all of Houston, Texas. Jim's sister and husband, Catherine & William Nevels, Phenix City, AL, sister-in-law, Tomasina Maxim, Brockport, NY, sister-in-law and husband and best friends, Margaret & Joseph Mayes, Rome, NY and many special nieces & nephews. He was predeceased by his parents, a brother, Vincent Wells, a sister, Patricia Wells and sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law; Frances and John Verminski, Mary Galluppi, Amelia and Canio Nigro, Carmella and Boyd Wynne, Louis and Frances Galluppi, Michael "Mit" and Antoinette Galluppi and Joseph Galluppi. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Saturday, December 19, 2015 at 10:30 a.m. at St. John the Baptist Church with the Rev. Paul F. Angelicchio officiating. Burial will be in St. John the Baptist Cemetery. The family will receive friends at church from 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. Please omit flowers. Arrangements are by the Nicholas J. Bush Funeral Home, Inc., 218 W. Court St. To offer online condolences, please visit www.njbushfuneralhome.com