John Wells Jr., West Virginia retail veteran
By Furniture Today Staff -- Furniture Today, February 28, 2004
Charleston, W.Va. — Longtime local retailer John M. Wells Jr. has died here. He was 67.
Wells worked for R.H. Kyle Furniture Co. for 33 years, then in 1994 co-founded Wells Home Furnishings here with his son, John M. Wells III.
In 2000, the store received both the Expect the Best from West Virginia Award and Ernst & Young's Entrepreneur of the Year Award. John Wells Jr. remained involved with the business until his death.
He also was active in civic and youth service organizations in the Charleston area. He was a past president of the National Wholesale Furniture Assn. and was named to the group's Hall of Fame in 1988.
Survivors include his wife; two children, including John Wells III, who is president of Wells Home Furnishings; and seven grandchildren. Memorial donations may be made to the Thomas Memorial Hospital Foundation, 4605 MacCorkle Ave., S.W., South Charleston, W.Va. 25309.
