Robert Faris Wells left this world on Monday, November 19, 2018, two months after suffering a massive stroke. Bob, as he was known to all, was able to spend his last month at home in his “cabin” surrounded by his loving wife, Patricia Fairbanks Wells and family. Bob was born December 4, 1931 and raised in Salt Lake City, the youngest son of Sarah Burdina Hyland and William Warren Wells.
Bob graduated from East High School, serving as senior class president, earning all conference honors as a center on the football team, and performing in the high school opera. Bob attended the University of Utah for four years, leaving only to enter the Army during the Korean War, working in counter intelligence. Prior to his enlistment, Bob met his wife on a double date; they were sealed March 23,1953 in the Salt Lake City Temple by Elder Matthew Cowley.
After the war, Bob and Pat along with their young family of three settled in the Canyon Rim neighborhood; it would become the place where they developed lifelong friends, and added three more children. In 1969 Bob joined the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, spending 20 years performing, traveling the world with Pat by his side and where Pat helped to create their study (party) club and made lasting friendships. Bob was employed with Cummins Diesel for 20 years.
He was gifted with a knowledge and ability to diagnose and repair diesel engines and traveled the states working on the more complicated problems which earned him the name of “Smooth Bore”. One of Bob’s greatest loves was watching his children play a variety of sports. Whether it was football, baseball, basketball, softball or volleyball, Bob never missed an opportunity to “discuss” his children’s talents with the refs.
Bob was truly a renaissance man; he was blessed with a beautiful bass voice, he was an artist, builder and fixer of homes and anything that couldn’t be stitched back together, as well as a student of history, especially of his beloved Salt Lake City. Bob considered his garden his “office” where his talents were on full display in his own private forest. Bob never met a stranger and loved sharing his knowledge, humor, and talents with his; grandchildren, the staff at Rancho Market, his doctors at the VA or for that matter anyone he met on the street.
We will miss him singing his theme song “If I Were A Rich Man,” and yet know that he is now building his “big tall house with rooms by the dozen” for Pat and himself. Bob is survived by his wife of 65 years Patricia, children: Jeff Wells (Kathy), Robyn Packer (Rod), Scott Wells (Sheri), Tom Wells (Noriko), Deb Wells (Melissa), Sara Rimington (Bryce), 16 grandchildren, 22 great-grandchildren and 1 great-great-grandchild. Proceeded in death by his mother and father, brother William Wells, sister Sally Williams, and granddaughter Tess Patrice Rimington.
The family would like to thank Lighten Hospice, Stephanie Foster, countless family members and their beloved Canyon Rim 2nd ward for their service and care of our father during his last few months. Funeral Services will be held Tuesday, November 27, 2018 at 11:00 a.m. at the Canyon Rim 2nd Ward building located at 3000 South 3100 East, followed by an interment at the Salt Lake Cemetery.
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