Alan Eugene “Sonny” Wells, 88, formerly of Tampa, FL, died peacefully at home on July 20, 2025, surrounded by family. He had been a resident of Hico for nearly 50 years.
Born Nov. 10, 1936, in Cokesbury, SC, he was the son of the late Worcester Allen Palmer and Marguerite Alexander Palmer, also stepfather Rodman Ellis Wells.
He enlisted in 1954 and retired a MSgt of the US Air Force with 20 years active service. He was a member of the Air Force Sergeants Association and the Retired Enlisted Association. Foreign service included Alaska, Panama Canal Zone, Vietnam and Thailand. Decorations and awards include the Air Force Commendation Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Air Force Good Conduct Medal, Army Good Conduct Medal, Small Arms Marksmanship Medal, Air Force Longevity Medal and Vietnam Service Medal.
He was preceded in death by his sister Mary McClean. In addition to his wife, Barbara, he is survived by his son Mark (Tara) Wells and daughter Kimberly (Doug) Seelinger; grandchildren Kaitlin (Matt) Coles, Jessica (Austin) Slater, Allison (Mitchell) Ryan, Emily (Nathan) Wallace, Lauren (Isaac) Richards, Caleb Wells, Jennifer Seelinger, Hannah Wells, Benjamin Seelinger, Joshua Wells, Kristen Seelinger, Gabriel Wells, Rachel Wells, Kayleigh Wells, Luke Wells and Jessalyn Wells; great-grandchildren John “Jack” Coles, Eleanor Coles, Brooks Slater, Evelyn Slater, Hazel Richards and Elijah Wallace. Other survivors include nieces Candi Greer and Sunny Gay Ploch of Florida, many brothers and sisters-in-law, nieces and nephews and their families.
Friends will be received at Lookout Baptist Church on July 25, from 1 to 2 p.m. Funeral services with Pastor Daniel Bennett officiating will be held at the church with military internment to follow in Restlawn Memory Gardens, 151 Restlawn Cemetery Road, Victor, WV.
The family respectfully requests no flowers be sent for the services. For those wishing to make donations in memorial, please send them to the Beckley VA Medical Center (www.cdceportal.va.gov), the Hospice of Southern WV (www.hospicecarewv.org) and/or the Lookout Baptist Church, 29862 Midland Trail, Lookout, WV.
Online condolences may be made to the family by visiting www.wallaceandwallacefh.com.
Wallace & Wallace, Inc., of Ansted, WV is in charge of arrangements.
