Robert Charles Wells

Apex, North Carolina: Robert C Wells passed away peacefully at home on Sunday, December 18, 2022, at the age of 87. He is preceded in death by his parents, Charles and Mildred Wells, and brother-in-law Stephan Duca and David Raysor. Bob is survived by his wife of sixty years Ann Gillam Wells, son Michael Wells and fiancé Wendy Fletcher-Hardee, daughter Kara Wells, granddaughters Hannah and Loran Wells, sister Barbara Duca, sisters-in-law Sandra Raysor and Mary McGregor, brother-in-law Richard McGregor and Michael Gillam, as well as many nieces and nephews.

Bob was born on April 12, 1935, in New York City, son of Charles and Mildred Wells of Flushing, New York. He attended Peter Stuyvesant High School in New York City, graduating in 1952. After graduation, he worked a summer job in Connecticut at Cherry Tree Farm owned by the Carrington family. In the fall of 1952, he entered The University of Connecticut and graduated in 1956 with a BS Degree in Animal Science. Shortly after graduation, Bob was drafted into the US Army and was stationed on active duty in France from 1956 to 1958, and as a reserve member of the New York National Guard from 1958 to 1962. Following his active-duty military service in France, Bob pursued his passion for agriculture and farming working as dairy herd manager for Dewan Farms in upstate New York from 1958 to 1962. In 1962 he was encouraged to further his education and was accepted as a graduate assistant at Cornell University, in Ithaca, New York. Bob earned a MS Degree in Dairy Science in 1963 and completed his PhD in Agricultural Economics in 1965. While at Cornell, he met and married his wife Ann.

In the fall of 1965, Bob and Ann moved to Raleigh, NC and Bob began his career at NC State University in the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences. He started in the Agricultural Economics Department as an Extension Specialist in Farm Management. In 1977, he was named Specialist in Charge and Associate Department Head in the Agricultural Economics and Business Department. In 1982, he became the Associate Director of the North Carolina Cooperative Extension service and in 1990 was selected to serve as the Director of the North Carolina Cooperative Extension Service and Associate Dean of the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences. Bob was extremely dedicated to his profession and work responsibilities. He thoroughly enjoyed sharing his knowledge and passion for agriculture by meeting, teaching, and working with people throughout North Carolina and involvement in North Carolina 4H programs. His expertise in farm management, agricultural marketing, and organizational development also took him into the international agricultural community working aboard in Australia, New Zealand, Fiji, Brazil, Poland, and China while at NC State.

In 1994, Bob retired from NC State and he and Ann began traveling throughout the United States and abroad, touring all 50 states and 29 foreign countries. Retirement would also be filled with continued involvement in agriculture with the US Department of Agriculture Cochrane Fellows program. In 1999, Bob was asked to develop and host a three-week agriculture extension program for The Republic of Moldova, a former Soviet bloc state. This led to an eleven-year volunteer program with the Citizens Network for Foreign Affairs in Moldova and further USDA Cochrane Fellows Programs in North Carolina. Bob traveled to Moldova several times assisting the National Federation of Savings and Credit Associations in Moldova with organizational and financial development. He assisted in establishing an agricultural extension program in Moldova (ASCA) and facilitated a Memorandum of Understanding between the North Carolina Cooperative Extension Service and ASCA in Moldova. Bob also participated in the North Carolina – Moldova Partnership Program under the leadership of NC Secretary of State, Elaine Marshall.

Outside of work, Bob was a family man. A devoted husband to his wife Ann, and father to his son, Michael, and daughter Kara. He was a great believer in exercise and was an avid runner, competing in short and middle-distance races as well as recreational running. He also enjoyed the outdoors. Bird watching was a favorite pastime, as well as camping and hiking with his family. Bob also was involved in Boy Scouts and went of several backpacking and canoe trips with his son. He also enjoyed vegetable gardening with family and friends, and there was never a shortage of fresh produce during the summer. Family vacations were a big part of his life with annual trips to Sunset Beach, NC, or visits with family members in upstate New York and Long Island. He and Ann also enjoyed square dancing. They belonged to two local clubs, the Star Twirlers and Capital Squares in Raleigh, were they participated in weekly club dances and attended dances in other parts of North Carolina, as well as Virginia, Pennsylvania, Georgia, and Florida.

A memorial service will be held at Highland United Methodist Church, located at 1901 Ridge Road, Raleigh, NC, on Saturday February 18, 2023, at 2:00PM. Visitation with the family will follow the service. A private burial and celebration of life for family members will be held in May 2023 in Canandaigua, New York. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you consider making a memorial donation to the: NC Agricultural Foundation in support of the Extension Administration Enhancement Fund at Campus Box 7645, NCSU, Raleigh, NC 27645 or online at go.ncsu.edu/extensionsupport. Please include "Wells - Extension" in the memo line of check.

The family also wishes to thank the home health care aides at Bayada and the Transitions Life Care team who assisted in Bob’s final transition.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.nationalcremation.com for the Wells family.