John Oliver Adams
John Oliver Adams, 92, of Marble Falls died June 19, 2012. He was born in Aledo, Ill., on April 17, 1920, to Timothy Oliver and Blanche Lillian Weeks Adams.
The master sergeant was a retired World War II veteran, serving in both the Navy and the Air Force.
Growing up on a farm, he fell in love with horses and was blessed by friends at Gateway Villa who saw to it that he had one last moment on the back of a mule. His photo, which he treasured, was published in a mule magazine.
At 21, he enlisted in the Navy after the bombing of Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7, 1941. As a member of the support systems, mechanics knew they had to get it right or possibly be the cause of the infamous telegram delivered to a grieving family. He was honored with a memorial brick at the Admiral Nimitz Museum of the Pacific War in Fredericksburg. He trained at both Norfolk and Moffat Field before being sent on the HMS Daystar banana boat to Guadalcanal.
After a year in Morocco, he was transferred back to America, saying, “The Golden Gate Bridge never looked so good.”
After the war, he re-enlisted in the Air Force and retired after 20 years of service.
He married his beloved Esther, and their daughter, Tricia, was born when he was stationed at George Air Force Base in Adelanto, Calif.
A faithful member of the Masons and Eastern Star, he received his 50-year pin from the Kingsland Masonic Lodge.
After the service, he became a special education teacher in Hesperia, Calif.
He was a humorous, compassionate and generous man, always helping someone else. He loved to play guitar and kept others in stitches for hours with stories.
In 2006, friend and caregiver LaTrelle Bagwell moved the couple to Marble Falls, where they became residents at Windchime Assisted Living in Kingsland and Gateway Villa in Marble Falls. For them, LaTrelle was like having another daughter, and the feeling of family was mutual.
Survivors include daughter Tricia Adams Manson and husband Bill; nephews Paul Perschnick and wife Susan, Don Adams and wife Barb and Jerry Adams and wife Sue; nieces Joanne Adams and Carol Gunning and husband Steve; and other nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents in 1949; brother Frank; wife Esther; sister Katherine R. (Adams) Perschnick; and nephews Russell Everett Adams and James Edward Adams.
A memorial service is 10 a.m. June 23 at Edgar Funeral Home, 2105 U.S. 281 in Marble Falls, (830) 693-5808, with the Rev. Matt Homeyer officiating. Interment with his wife will be at Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery in San Antonio.
A guestbook may be signed at www.edgarfh.com.
The family wishes to thank the physicians, medical staff, the staff at Windchime and Gateway Villa and Kim Flook for their wonderful care and kindness, as well as the residents for their friendships. For their devotion, friendship, love and care, the family also thanks his sitters Lupita Trevino, Maria Dilworth, Chance Cowen, Etta Chapman, Connie Hester, Elizabeth Landeros, Judith Crawford, Lana Ramsey, Linda Schaefer, Lume Munoz, Betty Valdez and Diana Campuzano.