Wells Family - Person Sheet
Wells Family - Person Sheet
NameDr. Lamar Oliver Wells
Birth28 Dec 1917, Bureau Co, IL
Death14 Dec 2000, Claremont, Lee Co, IL
BurialOakwood Cem, Dixon, Lee Co, IL
OccupationOptometrist
FatherGrover Cleveland Wells (1893-1919)
MotherWinifred Grace Strouss (1896-1986)
Misc. Notes
Married Ethel L. Trotter (1 Sep 1915 Peoria, IL - 16 May 2013 Rockford, IL)
[Obituary] Rockford Register Star (IL) - Saturday, 16 December 2000
LAMAR WELLS 82, of Dixon passed away Thursday, Dec. 14, 2000, in Claremont of Lee County from complications of several illnesses. Dr. Wells was born Dec. 28, 1917, in the Harmon area, son of Grover and Winifred Strauss Wells. After his father died in 1919, the family moved to Dixon where he attended Dixon South Central and Dixon High School. Veteran of the U.S. Army, serving during World War II. After his military service, Lamar attended Monroe College of Optometry in Chicago and returned to Dixon to establish an optometric practice. He was joined by Dr. Vernon Brickley in 1962 and nephew, Dr. Thomas Lawless, in 1971. He continued to practice on a part-time basis until retiring in December 1996. He divided his living between his home in Dixon and a home in San Diego. Lamar was united in marriage to Ethel Lena Trotter in Immanuel Lutheran Church on Dec. 31, 1947, with Pastor Paul Wagner officiating. He is survived by wife, Ethel children, Susan (Ben) Bonales of Lindenhurst, Joanne (Larry) Stern of Rockford and Jeffrey Wells of Sterling 12 grandchildren seven great-grandchildren and sister, Phyllis Healy of Dixon. Also predeceased by his mother. Dr. Wells was a life member of the American Optometric Association, Illinois Optometric Association and Northern Illinois Optometric Association, serving in various offices of these organizations and as first vice president of the IOA. Charter member of NERF (National Eye Research Foundation) and AOA Contact Lens Section. He was named Illinois Optometrist of the Year in 1984. Also member of American Legion and Dixon Elks Lodge. He was active in local development and was a member of Dixon Industrial Development Association (DIDA), served as president of Dixon Chamber of Commerce and was a member of Tollway Exploratory Committee. Dr. Wells enjoyed traveling to foreign countries and studying eyes. In 1986, he traveled to China with a group of optometrists and ophthalmologists to study Chinese medicine and eye care. He was a lifelong member of First Christian Church and a member of Ronald Reagan's Sunday school class. Cremation services have been accorded. Visitation will be from 2 to 4 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 17, in First Christian Church, 123 S. Hennepin Ave., Dixon, with the Rev. Lynn Bond, pastor, officiating. Burial of cremains will be in Oakwood Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorial established for First Christian Church. Jones Funeral Home, 204 S. Ottawa Ave., Dixon, is assisting the family.
Spouses
Birth1 Sep 1915, Peoria, Peoria Co, IL
Death16 May 2013, Rockford, Winnebago Co, IL
BurialOakwood Cem, Dixon, Lee Co, IL
Misc. Notes
Daughter of Frank Orville Trotter (1889-1965) and Lena "Helene Marie" Rohde (1893-1967).
Confirmed in the Evangelical Lutheran Church on 29 Mar 1931 in the Emmanuel church, Dixon, IL.
Listed in 1940 as the wife of Byron Entyre (35, IL) who owned a grocery business. They had daughter Susan Ann (1, IL) and were living with Byron’s parents. Unclear whether they were divorced or he died before 1947, when she was remarried to Lamar.

[Obituary]
ETHEL L. WELLS , age 97, of Rockford, formerly of Dixon, passed away peacefully after a brief illness, Thursday, May 16, 2013, at Rosewood Care Center in Rockford. She was born September 1, 1915, in Peoria, the daughter of Frank and Lena (Rohde) Trotter. She married Dr Lamar Wells, Dec. 31, 1947, at the Immanuel Lutheran Church in Dixon. He preceded her in death Dec. 14, 2000. She worked with her husband at his Optometry office prior to her retirement. She is survived by her children, Susan (Ben) Bonales of Lindenhurst, Joanne (Larry) Stern of Rockford and Jeff (Chris) Wells of Dixon; 13 grandchildren; 18 great-grandchildren; one brother, Gerald Trotter, of Dixon; and sisters, Geraldine Carroll of Rockford and Kay (George) Levan of Dixon. She was preceded in death by brothers, Edward and William Trotter; sisters, Esther Thayer, Marge Hinkle, Helen Mackh, Viola Reis, Virginia Smith, Darlene Nehrkorn, Jean Van Matre and Betty Dennison. Cremation rites have been accorded. A visitation will be held 10 a.m. to 12 p.m., Saturday, May 25, at the Jones Funeral Home in Dixon. Burial of remains will follow in Oakwood Cemetery.
Marriage31 Dec 1947, Dixon, Lee Co, IL
Marr MemoImmanuel Lutheran Church, pastor Paul Wagner
 Jeffrey Lane (1950-2021)
Last Modified 10 Oct 2020Created 4 Jan 2024 using Reunion on a Mac