Wells B. Sloniger was born in Chicago to Wells A. Sloniger and Gertrude Scholl. The family, which also included his sister Gail, relocated to Litchfield, Illinois in 1952 when Wells was in fifth grade. He flourished in the small-town setting and became actively involved in school sports, showcasing the athletic talent he inherited from his mother, “Dirty Gertie,” a Hall of Fame professional Roller Derby skater.
In 1957, the Sloniger family moved to Garden Grove, California, where Wells attended Garden Grove High School. During his time there, he set a school basketball scoring record with 1,104 points, including a remarkable 37-point performance in a single game. Wells was known for his friendly and outgoing nature, and his high school peers voted him student body president in his senior year.
Wells attracted attention from several college basketball programs, including UCLA, where legendary coach John Wooden attempted to recruit him. Ultimately, Wells decided to accept a full athletic scholarship to the University of Southern California (USC), where he played under coach Forrest Twogood. At USC, he was a three-time letter winner in basketball and earned second-team all-conference honors in his senior year. Wells was also an active member of Phi Delta Kappa and was named Student Teacher of the Year and Most Inspirational Basketball Player. Additionally, he was proud to be part of the prestigious Skull and Dagger Honor Society.
After graduating from USC, Wells and his wife DiAnn settled in Garden Grove, close to family and friends. He dedicated 12 years to the Garden Grove Unified School District, where he served as a history teacher, varsity basketball coach, junior varsity baseball coach, activities director, summer school coordinator, assistant principal, and principal.
From 1976 to 2000, Wells continued his educational career at Long Beach City College, where he served as the Associated Men Students Advisor, Dean of Student Affairs, and Vice President of Student Services. Throughout his career, Wells was known for his warm, friendly, and approachable demeanor.
In his later years, Wells lived in Anaheim Hills, where he spent much of his time with his beloved grandchildren, whom he adored. He enjoyed traveling with friends, working out with his gym buddies, and relaxing in his backyard, taking in the view of the hills and mountains while listening to music by Patsy Cline, accompanied by his dogs and a Bud Light.
Wells is survived by his wife of 62 years, DiAnn Sloniger; his daughter, Leslie Sloniger, and her children, Ellise and Aaron Floreani; and his son, Chris Sloniger and his wife Mitzi, and their three children, Savannah Cope, Wells Dalton Sloniger, and Rex Sloniger.
A celebration of Wells’ life will be held on January 12th 2025 at 12:00 pm at the Yorba Linda Country Club. Please join our family and friends as we honor his memory.
Author: gqlshare
https://www.ocregister.com/obituaries/wells-sloniger-anaheim-ca/