KEN WELLS 1959 - 1986 PILOT DEN Another aviator who defied the weather on occasion was Ken Wells. One morning when I was working forms in ABQ we had fog and the 727's (90 and 91) had both passed ABQ, along with CO, TW and TT. Wells was flying 512 from ELP and ALM that morning and when he called in I told him that all our other flights had flown over. He double-clicked the mike and I figured the next I would hear from him would be his time over ABQ and estimate for the next station. A few minutes later, as the ramp crew sat around drinking coffee, we heard the preowwww of a 580 taxiing up through the fog. The guys ran out and got the plane parked and about 2 minutes later Wells came blasting through the doors and down the hall to the restroom. When he showed up in the ops room I asked him how he managed to get a landing when no one else could. He said that his overnight in ELP had included a trip to Juarez where he had eaten some pretty hot chili and that there was really no question of flying all the way to FMN. I can only imagine what the other crew and passengers thought about that landing. And I don't know how he convinced ABQ approach control to let him land. -Steve Galusha (2/7/99) Thanks Ken, Good to know things are coming along OK that ol' Mister "C" is a rough one... We will have you in our thoughts and prayers, so kick that situation in the butt... Remember, you have proved you are nearly invincible... Is it OK to forward your note to Jake Lamkins to let folks know how you are doing? He will put it in the FAL Alumni Web Site... -Billy Walker (10-15-01) Hi Billy and all. It seems I am very remiss at writing. Congratulations on the Retirement and hope you enjoy it. I still don't know how I ever got anything done when I had a Job. As you probably know I have had a bout with colon Cancer. It is coming along ok at this time. I have one more Chemo Treatment and then I will be done with that for a while anyway. My Cancer bloodcount is normal as is all the other checks. I will write some more shortly and will drop a line to Joe he used to be my neighbor out here at Van Air. Do with my info as you see fit. I keep in touch with a lot of the guys and the reason I dont send a lot to you is I know how busy you are and I wont send any goofy jokes only the great ones. KEEP SMILING -Ken Wells (10-15-01) Regretfully, the Gone West of Capt. Ken Wells...10/09/04 Arrangements later. Regretfully, -Ace Avakian (10/10/04) Posted at the FL Club: Pilot Ken Wells has died. Ace emailed, "Regretfully, the Gone West of Capt. Ken Wells...10/09/04 Arrangements later. Regretfully, Ace" Anyone with more info, please post it. -Jake Lamkins (10/10/04) Thanks so much for this information. I knew Ken very well. He was liked by everyone. Thanks so much for listing the obituaries. Some of my colleagues in the ABQ station were on that list along with several stews I knew very well. The pilot's list also got to me. For twenty-seven years to the day, Frontier Airlines was my family so losing one of them is always difficult. Best wishes, -Wayman (Mac) McElhaney... ABQ agent 1958-1985. (10/12/04) WELLS, KENNETH N. 76, of Brighton died October 9, 2004. Memorial Service will be Saturday, October 30, at 10:30 am, Zion Congregational Church, 401 S. 27th Ave., Brighton. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Food Bank of the Rockies, 10975 E. 47th. Ave., Denver, CO 80239. Arrangements by Monarch Society. -Denver Newspaper Agency (10/12/2004) I am forwarding this obituary of Kenny Wells in case you have not seen it. It came from our son at Greeley. Bob does remember him. -Harriette Ullrich (I'm not sure if you remember Kenny Wells....he was a Frontier pilot, but he also flew aerobatics...he came to Greeley for a number of airshows. He passed away the other day. I did not know him personally, but I wasn't sure if dad remembers him. http://www.greeleytrib.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20041017/OBIT/110170074 -Skip Ullrich) (10/18/04) Thank you for the info. I hadn't been able to find a good obituary of Ken. I'll post it at the Frontier Club. -Jake Lamkins (10/18/04) Here is a photo of Ken Wells if you don't have a better one. Keep up the good work, have a great Christmas, -Al Kendell (12/16/04) Thanks, Al, I didn't have one. -Jake Lamkins (12/16/04) There are several reasons for this letter. First is to compliment you on your wonderful job editing and publishing the Frontier News. Secondly, to advise you and your many readers of the death of my husband, Ken Wells, on 10/9/04. He as a pilot with Frontier from March of 1959 until its demise in Aug. of '86. Ken was 76 years old and had fought a courageous battle with cancer for 8 1/2 years. -Mary Ann (Marty) Wells (3/10/05) Just getting some updates on the obit section of the FLamily website. Was sorry to see that Ken Wells passed away. As a Sr. Agent in LNK we always loved it when Ken flew the ORD-LNK flights. We had so many connections to make on the evening flight to GRI, EAR, RAP, LBF, BFF and he would do remarkable things to get the plane out of the afternoon ORD rush. We actually use to put Coors in the pit, at his suggestion, to give to the EA agents that worked the ramp at ORD for us. It worked since Coors was not sold there and the EA ramp agents would fight to work out flights instead of thier own.. When I wound up in DEN, Ken invited me to his house and got to ride in his tail dragger. One night we took off from his backyard at Van Air for a trip over Arvada and Loveland. We were losing petrol though quite quickly and just made it back before it was empty. The cap wasn't on. Missed that in preflight somehow. Ken was a good friend but I lost contact when UA sent me off to the IAD with the other ex-FL members that had joined UA after 86. Ken was a great aviator and friend. Thanks for keeping up the website. -Mike White (9/16/07) K N WELLS Pilot seniority date of 3/16/59 on the 9/1/86 FL/ALPA seniority list. -Jake Lamkins (9/16/07) I came across this photo of Ken Wells with his Steen Skybolt at Van Aire, CO airport where he lived and played. -Billy Walker (6/26/12) Johnny Selph, Terry Karpen and I had lunch. Got to talking about pilots and Terry told of Kenny Wells losing his right leg in the crash of his aircraft and he came back with an artificial leg to complete six more years with FL. He said Kenny compensated on the brake since his right leg had no feeling by observing what the nose of the aircraft was doing. -Jake Lamkins (11/26/13) FLacebook - FL Club DEN pilot Ken Well's memorial webpage has been upgraded. http://FAL-1.tripod.com/Ken_Wells.html Moved to a non-ad site and several items added. -Jake Lamkins (9/22/14) FLacebook Post Jake Lamkins I added this funny story to pilot Ken Wells memorial webpage. It was found in a pile of files from Ken Schultz. Warning - it may make you laugh out loud. (8/17/21) Liz Gomez Great story! I remember Ken Wells! Bill Buse I remember reading this story once before and am glad it was posted. Sheila Herrmann Great memories Ken Nicholas That sounds like Kenny. Ed Gonzales I remember Kenny Wells he was a great captain and a very friendly and funny guy. I worked in GJT at the time. I also worked in COS and remember Steve Galusha. My name is Ed Gonzales. GIF may contain haha, baby, cute and Raised Eyebrows Mike White Kenny would load up the pit with peaches out of GJT to DEN and would sell them to everyone for cost. Tom Pigan Would call for Deice . 90 degrees out.. Lisa Kerr Zeman He was a hoot!!! Irene Fairweather I remember Ken Wells. He hurt a lot of f/a's in his career. I had hurt my neck in turbulence. When I talked to my supervisor, she asked, "was it Kenny Wells?" Dan Albers Remember, if it’s got wings, you can loop it! Mike White I have several stories about him with his overnights in LNK, jump seating in/out ORD, how to “encourage” quick turns by EA union crew ls at ORD, riding with him in his own planes…..Just a good guy Karen Davidsaver Everyone remembers Ken Wells, didn't he have an accident when he was doing crop dusting and flipped the plane. Almost killed him, but he did return to fly with Fronter. Jake Lamkins Yes, it's mentioned on his memorial webpage. (8/17/21) Rick Broome We lost a real character when Kenny Wells flew West. And at a young age actually. I flew with him in his Steen Skybolt and he did everything he could think of to make me sick. Didn’t happen! (8/19/21)