Thursday, April 25, 2024
William “Bill” Wells passed away peacefully in his home in Leavenworth, Washington surrounded by his family on April 15. He was born in Seattle, Washington, and attended Lincoln High School. In 1953 he joined the US Army and was in the Signal Corps, Alaska Communication System in the territory of Alaska until 1956.
During that time, Wells married his sweetheart, Dorothy “Diane” (DeDe) Walker and they had two children, Steven A. and Shelley L. (Winterer). They relocated to Yakima in 1958 where he attended J.M. Perry Technical Institute earning the Aircraft and Power Plant (A&P) license after completing his restoration of a 1947 Aeronca 7AC Champ in 1960. Working in 1962 for a helicopter services company as a skilled mechanic, Wells received his private pilot license in fixed-wing craft.
When he was hired by Cascade Helicopters, Inc., he earned his FAA Commercial Rotorcraft license and FAA Certified Flight Instructor (CFI) license in 1963/64. His flying missions included agricultural spraying, search and rescue, Forest Service and Department of Natural Resources fire suppression, government contracting, geological survey, volcanology scientist team, recreational, transmission line installation, and law enforcement. Wells flew a National Geographic photographer all over the Enchantments in 1968 to photograph the beauty of the area and that became the cover story in the magazine. That exposure led to the eventual designation of The Alpine Lakes Wilderness area. By 1988, Wells was owner and president of Cascade Helicopters Inc., Cashmere Washington.
In 2002 Wells was elected international “Pilot of the Year” by his colleagues based on his accident-free missions and the quality of his service, safety, and rescue being of the highest level. Wells logged over 11,500 accident-free hours over the course of his career. In 2002, Wells retired and closed Cascade Helicopters. He felt that the hundreds of rescues he was able to perform were what, “being a helicopter pilot was all about.”
In addition to flying and running a helicopter business Wells was active in the industry on a national and international scale. He was involved in Helicopter Association International, based in Alexandria, Virginia and served on the board of directors and as Chairman in 1994 to 1995. Closer to home he served on the Pangborn Airport Board and helped oversee the construction of the new (present) terminal and micro-wave landing system.
Bill and Diane were both very active in Leavenworth and promoted the Bavarian theme of the small town. They owned a shop, Alpen Hansel, which was a European Gift and Art shop in downtown Leavenworth. Bill and Diane spent many gift-buying trips in their beloved Bavaria. In 1993, Wells was a Kanzler (president, chairman) for the Royal Bavarians, at the same time Diane was chosen as “Royal Lady”. He had served on the Leavenworth Planning Commission and as a Leavenworth City Council member, Mayor pro tem and, until March 18, was a board member on Projekt Bayern and the Nutcracker Museum. He was a long-time member of Grace Lutheran Church, Cashmere. Bill’s hobby has been cars, especially older hot rods. He enjoyed restoring his Model A Ford and building and driving his 37 Ford street rod. He had many friends in the local rodding family and enjoyed spending time with them and talking cars. Bill is survived by his loving bride of 66 years, Diane Wells, his son Steve Wells (Janet), daughter Shelley Winterer (Frank), Grandfather “Opa” to five grandchildren, Cami Ulrich (Jon), Kelli Fletcher (Justin), Eric Wells (Crystal), Cameron Winterer, and Devon Winterer, and “Great-Opa” to Spencer Wells, Caroline and Elise Ulrich, and Walter and Emmeline Fletcher. Wells was preceded in death by his mom, Nadine, stepfather Rod Mullen, and his father William H. Wells, Sr.
In Lieu of flowers, please send donations to your favorite charity; Hospice Care Confluence Health; The Nutcracker Museum, Leavenworth. A Celebration of Life will be announced at a later date.
