Virginia B Wells

Virginia B. Wells passed away on October 16, 2014 at age 89 after a long illness. She was born on January 14, 1925 in Marshall, IL, to Edward Bauer, a University of Illinois engineering professor, and Amy Weir Bauer. She attended the University of Illinois, obtaining a B.S. in journalism. After marrying Adrian Wells, they lived in Monmouth, IL for 20 years. She earned her M.A. and M.Ed. from Columbia Teachers College in 1978. Throughout her life she held numerous editing, administrative, and teaching positions. These included editing for the Readers Digest, working for the United Church Board for World Ministries, and concluding her career working at the Hastings Center, a medical ethics think tank, through 1989. Her teaching work included Western Illinois University, Carl Sandburg Junior College, and teaching composition for three years in New York colleges. She took a great interest in contemporary psychological and spiritual thinking. During the 1970s and 1980s she was active in the Dialogue House programs in the New York City area, designed by psychologist Ira Progoff. After spending some retirement time in Poughkeepsie, NY with her companion Harold Eckhoff, she split time between St. Petersburg, FL and Southern Africa. She was active in the First Unity Church in St. Petersburg and the Florida chapter of the Institute of Noetic Sciences (IONS). She had a passion for poetry, creativity, and self-expression, and published several booklets of her own poems. She moved to Goleta, CA to be further involved in the work of the Foundation for Conscious Evolution, under the leadership of Barbara Marx Hubbard. Virginia Wells is survived by her first daughter Kathy Hill, grandchildren Patrick and Greg Kimmitt and Robin Hill, and three great-grandchildren; second daughter Professor Julie Wells and granddaughter Dr. Cassia Wells; first son Scott Wells and grandchildren Maddy and Patrick Wells; second son Tim Wells and granddaughter Sharissa Wells. Her third son, Bruce, predeceased her. A memorial service is planned for December 27, 2014, in the Washington, DC area. In lieu of flowers please send contributions to your local hospice. Arrangements by PALMETTO CREMATION SOCIETY, 11 Cunnington Ave., Charleston, SC 29405, (843) 722-2555. Online condolences may be left at www.palmettocremationsociety.com