Phillip R. Wells, 85, died Friday July 9th at home. Phillip graduated from UMASS Amherst in 1957 with a degree in Dairy Science. He went on to graduate from Penn State in 1959 and received his PhD from Rutgers in 1963. He and Adele raised their family in Bridgewater, NJ while working at CPC International/Best Foods as a Food Research Specialist. He retired in 2001 after 34 years, and moved to South Hadley, MA to be closer to family. He was a devoted husband, father, grandfather and great grandfather who was a role model for how to be a caring, kind and compassionate person. Phil was an avid musician and lifelong bluegrass music fan. He enjoyed playing and recording his own songs as well as those of various artists, most notably Hank Williams. He was a particular fan of the Gibson Brothers. Phil had a voracious appetite for reading, some of his favorite topics and authors were The Mythology of King Arthur and Camelot, Issac Asimov, Arthur Conan Doyle and Sir Thomas Malory. He also instilled in his children a love of expressive reading with his recitations of stories using music and character voices, and the famous "nose" monologue from Cyrano DeBergerac. He also collected vintage comic books and vinyl record albums.

He got his DJ certification and was a regular DJ on Sudzin Country at Rutgers and a fill in DJ at WTCC Country Corner, Springfield, MA. He leaves his wife of nearly 59 years, Adele (Reytar) Wells, two daughters Sharon Wells of Nashua NH and Laurie Bouchard and her husband Roger of West Brookfield, a son Jeff Wells of Providence, RI, two sisters Linda Wells Sears of Falls Church, VA and Kathy Wells of Mechanicsburg, PA, two brothers Richard Wells of Northampton and Paul Wells of Kennebunk, ME, five grandchildren Sierra Wilbur, Shane Wales, Sheyenne Wales, Ashley Bouchard and Heather Bouchard and a great grandson Leo Wilbur. The family wishes to celebrate his life in private. Donations can be made to Dakin Animal Shelter, Springfield, MA https://www.dakinhumane.org or to WTCC Radio Station, https://www.wtccfm.org .  For more information or to make online condolences please go to curranobrien.com.