John William Wellman

John William Wellman left this world peacefully at home on December 24, 2022 surrounded by his family. He was born on April 9,1958 to Bill and Virginia Wellman.

To know John was to remember him in his denim shirt, hat, and ponytail, with his quick, dry wit. He was known as the middle sibling and answered to Johnny Bill in his younger years. He attended Herron Art School and violin-making school. He lived and worked in New York City and Chicago before returning to Paoli.

Over the years, he was found working in the family business, Hoosier Hardware, creating art wherever he could find something to draw on, and, most recently, using his compassion and skills in caring for his mom, Ginny. His ability to help make the world and the lives of those around him better was ever-present.

He saw art in everything around him and helped the younger generations see it, too. His ability to communicate with everyone, young and old, was evident in how he loved his family and helped those who visited the hardware store. He enjoyed passing along his culinary skills to his nieces by sharing his thoughts and opinions on how they could improve their tabbouleh (“it’s good, but…”) and mashed potatoes (no skins) and teaching the next generation the art of making the perfect garlic pasta. He loved encouraging the creativity of his great nieces and great nephews and their loves of art, crafting, and music, always passing along encouragement and inspiration.

John was full of information from his avid reading and thirst to learn and understand the world around him. He was a professor of his knowledge of the world to his nieces, nephews, and anyone who dropped by his table at Pizza Hut in the 90’s. There was rarely a subject of conversation where John wasn’t already well-read and highly informed. His love of passing along tidbits of information in all his conversations will be greatly missed.

He is preceded in death by his father, William Wellman, and great-nephew Lane Voyles. He is survived by his mother, Virginia Wellman; his brother, Bob Wellman (Katie) his sisters, Lee Ann Hutson (Bob) Mary Beth Morgan (Mike) and Jo Ellen Reynolds (Jerry); nieces Shannon Voyles (Dustin), Sarah Cook (Eli), and Mandy Sergent (Matt); nephews Daniel Hamilton-Lowe (Angie) and Josh Clemons (Taylor); great nieces Linden Voyles, Mia Sergent, and Bryleigh Clemons; and great nephews Hadley Hamilton-Lowe, Xavier Voyles, Noah Sergent, and Matthias and Marcus Cook. Everyone will miss their chats with Uncle John.

Funeral services will be held 11:00 AM, Thursday, December 29, 2022 at the Dillman Scott Funeral Home, 226 West Campbell Street, Paoli, IN with interment to follow at the Paoli Community Cemetery.  Visitation will be held at the funeral home from 9:00 AM until the time of service at 11:00 AM.

In lieu of flowers the family requests donations be made to a charity of the donor’s choice.

 Online condolences can be made to funeral home at www.dillmanscottfuneralhome.com.

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