Kenneth Alexander Burr Wells, 87, of Swarthmore, died August 26, 2023, in Media, PA.

Ken was born on Dec. 5, 1935 in Chiang Mai, Thailand, the son of Presbyterian missionaries Dr. Kenneth E. and Margaretta B. Wells. He graduated from Macalester College, St. Paul, MN, in 1956 and from Princeton Theological Seminary, Princeton, NJ, in 1960. During 1956–57, he was a Fulbright Scholar in Ancient History at the University of Strasbourg, France.

Ordained on July 6, 1960, Ken held five full-time pastorates during his years of ministry: Director of Geneva Larger Parish in central Pennsylvania (1960–63), Assistant Minister at Covenant-Central Presbyterian in Williamsport, PA (1963–66), Pastor of Calvary United Presbyterian in York, PA (1967–84), Associate Pastor at Setauket Presbyterian in Setauket, NY (1984–89), and Pastor of Glading Memorial Presbyterian in Philadelphia, PA (1989–2001). He led churches in summer exchange pastorates in Cardiff, Wales (1972), York, England (1978), and Bracknell, England (1997), and served as the Visitation Pastor at Wallingford Presbyterian from 2001 to 2011. His commitment to social justice informed many aspects of his ministry, and he will be remembered for his support of the LGBTQ+ community and his many ecumenical outreach activities.

Ken married Helga Louise Muelder of Newton Centre, MA, on July 18, 1964; they recently celebrated their 58th year of marriage. Ken and Helga travelled widely throughout their marriage, spending a sabbatical year in Europe (1966‒67) and making later trips to Germany, the Netherlands, Austria, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Italy, Greece, Spain, Brazil, Mexico, Peru, Thailand, the Holy Land, and many other destinations.

In retirement, Ken enjoyed cooking elaborate meals for Helga and visiting family; he read widely and had recently completed a personal project of re-reading the complete works of Shakespeare. Ken was loved by family and friends for his warmth, enthusiasm, concern for others, and one-of-a-kind sense of humor.

Ken was preceded in death by his sister Roberta Rogers of Newport News, Virginia. He is survived by his wife Helga (Swarthmore, PA), daughter Christina Wells and son-in-law Douglas Bielenberg (Overland Park, KS), and nieces Virginia Clayton (Stanardsville, VA) and Margaret Prior (Stanardsville, VA). A memorial service for Ken will be held at 11 AM on Saturday September 2, 2023 at Swarthmore Presbyterian Church, 727 Harvard Ave., Swarthmore, PA, 19081. Memorial donations may be made to Swarthmore Presbyterian Church.

Arrangements provided by Rigby Harting & Hagan Funeral Home  15 E. 4th Street Media, PA 19063

www.haganfuneralhome.com