Harvey Smith Wells

Harvey Smith Wells

A man standing next to an old green car.

Harvey Smith Wells, 70, recently of Brownsville, Texas, passed away at home on February 15, 2023. Harvey was a devoted husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, brother and friend. He was born in Fort Lee, Virginia on May 11, 1952.

He is preceded in death by his parents, Robert S and Gertrude Ann Wells, and his brother Robert S Wells “Redâ€.

Left to cherish his memory are his wife Peggy; his children Chris (Amy), Rebekah (Jeremy), Rob (Megan); his grandchildren Jared, Chase (Maddie), Tobi, Natali, Rosie and Josie; his great grandson Harlow, his nieces Heather (Rick) and Ginger.

Harvey was incredibly proud of his children, Chris, Rebekah and Rob; they meant the world to him.  However, it was his grandchildren that then stole his heart.  He always told them the newest grandchild was his favorite.  This past year, he became a great-grandpa to Harlow.  He would sing to him on FaceTime.  Guess who’s the favorite?

Harvey’s adventurous life was certainly lived to the fullest while surrounded by family as well as friends that became family. His love for travel led to him convincing his wife, Peggy, to work for an airline and off they went. Their first ‘standby’ flight took them to Virginia to see his brother, Red, and in true Harvey fashion they made the decision to go 2 hours before the flight departed from Burbank, CA.  From then on, Harvey and Peggy crisscrossed not only this country hundreds of times but the world using planes, trains, automobiles, RVs, cruise ships, his Harley Davidson Tri-Glide and everything in between.  London, Alaska, Japan, Hawaii, Mexico, Hong Kong, the Caribbean, China, and Brazil where he chose his 1975 Kombi! He made it his mission to see it all. His spirit for adventure was so strong that it continues to live on through his children and grandchildren and will continue to be passed down in his honor as they look to continue the road trips with his Dad’s beloved 1968 Chrysler Imperial.

Harvey had an electric sense of humor you could rely on and a personality that knew no strangers. Harvey loved old cars and enjoyed debating history, politics and football. He had an incredible passion for life and his always positive outlook allowed him to also deal with multiple health issues including two bouts of dialysis, but that never stopped him. Harvey also had two kidney transplants. The first, in 1998 at Ohio State University was graciously given by his wife Peggy.  The second, in 2011, was from Tyler Noyola (and his gracious family) who lived on through Harvey’s continued adventures. Harvey turned his experience with dialysis into a passion for inspiring other dialysis patients “to get their life back†with Home Hemodialysis (NxStage).  Using NxStage allowed him to continue his passion for travel AND he felt so much better.  Harvey and his grandsons traveled to dialysis centers in his RV around the country demonstrating to others that if HE could do it, they could, too.

Prior to working with NxStage, Harvey worked for Neiman Marcus as a COBOL developer, and prior to that, worked in the car rental industry at locations across the country as a regional manager.  After growing up in Virginia and North Carolina, Harvey attended a Baptist Bible College and became a youth pastor.  He made an incredible impact here too with his talent of touching the hearts of everyone he met.  He graduated from Ashland University in Ashland, Oh.

Harvey Wells was a man filled with stories, history, and a deep, endless love for those around him that made everyone love him back just as much. Whether it was watching football (Go Browns!) or exploring the world and making new friends laugh until they cry, he put joy and fun into every minute of his life. An inspiration to everyone, Harvey will forever be cherished in the minds of every single person who had the pleasure to meet him and I’m sure every single one has a few incredible stories to tell of this spectacular man.

The ’Season of Harvey’ has ended but we will meet again at Heaven’s door as we know he’s with our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

Harvey’s family and friends will hold a Celebration of Life ceremony with plenty of food,  drink and Harvey stories:

Date:          Sunday April 16th

Time:          130pm – 6pm

Where:       The Red Barn in Tanglewood Park in Clemmons, North Carolina.

                   4061 Clemmons Rd.

                   Clemmons, NC 27012 

Please RSVP to his daughter Rebekah Elerick by April 6th.  We hope to see as many as can make it:

Rebekah’s Phone:   239-248-8564

Rebekah’s Email:  jrelerick@gmail.com

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that a donation be made in Harvey’s honor to either:

Donate Life America

Or

New Philadelphia Moravian Church

(The Church he attended growing up and was a boy scout as well as almost every Easter since to visit his Mom’s grave in God’s Acre)

4440 Country Club Rd

Winston-Salem, North Carolina

“Life should not be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well-preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside in a cloud of smoke, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming Wow! What a ride!†–           – Hunter S Thompson