Josephine ‘Jo’ Wells
Josephine Wells
Josephine “Jo” Wells, 98, Warsaw, passed away at 2:34 a.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 17, 2020, at Miller’s Merry Manor in Syracuse. She was born Aug. 7, 1922, on the family farm in Warsaw, to Ralph H. and Lillie Faye (Wissler) Reiff.
She attended Pierceton High School and was a lifetime Pierceton and Warsaw area resident (lived within 1 mile from where she was born) except for five years in Crestline, Ohio. She purchased 20 acres right next to her parent’s farm and that was her home for over 70 years. Her father helped her with farming the land and she helped him tile the ground by digging and laying drain lines by hand.
She was married Oct. 5, 1937, in Huntington, to Robert Royce Galbreath, who preceded her on Dec. 28, 1944. She then remarried on Sept. 12, 1946, to Robert S. Wells who preceded her in 1999. She retired from Stephan’s Enterprises in Pierceton at the age of 83. She formerly worked at Western Auto in Warsaw, Warsaw Coil, and Winona Lake & North Webster Laundry Mats. She helped her sister, Mary, for many years as a cook at the Shrine Building in Warsaw serving many civic groups and private parties.
She attended Morris Chapel United Methodist Church in Warsaw, where she spent many hours helping make homemade noodles as a fund raiser for the church. She formerly attended United Methodist Church in Pierceton, and was a member of the Senior Citizens Group in Pierceton.
She is survived by two sons: Marvin L. (Jeannie) Gablreath, Syracuse; Richard A. (Frances) Wells, Pierceton; three grandchildren: Aaron D. Hartup, Robert “Rob” (Mindy) Galbreath and Todd (Candy) Wells; three great grandchildren: Grady and June Galbreath and Audrey Wells; brother: Samuel Reiff of Warsaw
She was preceded in death by her parents, husbands, daughter, Lillie Faye “Susie” Hartup, two sisters: Veradean Reiff and Mary Shroyer, and two brothers: Robert and Bill Reiff.
Graveside services will be at 11 a.m. on Saturday, Nov. 21, at Hillcrest Cemetery in Pierceton with Pastor Steve Newkirk officiating. Family is requesting that masks are worn at graveside. Owen Family Funeral Home, SR 13 and CR 500N, North Webster is in charge of arrangements.
Preferred memorials may be given to the Morris Chapel United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 482, Pierceton, IN 46562. To send condolences to the family of Josephine Wells, please visit www.owenfamilyfuneralhome.com
