Lida Wells

Milford - On March 10, 2021, Lida Wilson Wells, 97, was called home to the Lord.

She was born on September 8, 1923 in Pocomoke City, MD, the 6th of 8 children, to the late Coulbourn and Lida Emma Wilson.

Lida graduated from Pocomoke City High School in 1940, and soon moved to Milford, DE to work at Masten Trucking Co. After moving to Milford Lida met her future husband, Bill Wells.

World War 2 broke out for the U.S. and Bill honorably served our country. Once he came home, Bill and Lida married and he started Wells Insurance Agency. They started their family in 1954, when Joe Wells, Jr. was born.  As a stay at home mom she found that she liked to volunteer her time to better the community. Lida got involved with the Milford Memorial Hospital Gift Shop, helped expand it, eventually chairing the Milford Hospital Fair fund raiser for 10 years. She managed the construction of the Children’s Bureau Home. Served on the Milford Planning Commission. Was 1st President of the Sussex County Arts Council. She was elected to the Delmarva Power & Light Board.  She served as president of the Shawnee Country Club in 1982-84, coordinating the financing and construction of the “back nine” holes.

In 1974 she went back to school and graduated from the University of Delaware with a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1976.  She started her Real Estate career in 1973, becoming a licensed Real Estate Broker in 1978. Mrs. Wells was named Realtor of the Year for Kent County in 1982, and became the President of the Delaware Association of Realtors in 1983.

Lida was a faithful member of Avenue U.M.C., where she founded the Holzmueller Art Gallery and the Wright Memorial Library in the Church.

Lida & Bill loved to travel, visiting Ireland, Israel, & Egypt as well as golf resorts along the Eastern Seaboard.

Lida was preceded in death by husband Bill in 1990.

In the 1996 she completed her Master’s Degree in History, and continued to travel worldwide to New Zealand, Fiji, Chile, Tierra del Fuego, Hong Kong, Europe, St Petersburg, and South Africa.

She is survived by her son, Joseph Wells, Jr. and his wife Rita, her grandchildren, Amie Evans and Nathan Wells, her “adopted” grandson; Jose Balmori, her great grandchildren, Addison, Ellie, and Jackson Evans, and her nieces and nephews; Carolyn M. Humes, Dan Masten,  A. Robert Masten MD, Cindy and Ellen Pilchard, Ann Lawson, Steve Ward, and Scott and Gary Hancock, and Joy Wilson Mariner

The family will receive visitors at Avenue U.M.C., 20 North Church St., Milford, from 11AM to 1PM on Monday 3/15, with a funeral service at 1PM.

Interment is at Milford Community Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, it is suggested that donations be made to the Auxillary of BayHealth Sussex Campus or the Avenue U.M.C Endowment fund.