Adams, David F. Jr.

Description

David F. Adams Jr. was born in Connecticut Jan. 28, 1924. However, he grew up in Rye at both 360 Midland Avenue and 236 Purchase Street. He was the only child of David and Anna Adams. His father worked at a Print Shop and David took a job at Apawamis Club in his teens.

He was a graduate of Rye High School with the class of 1942. David not only was a member of the Drivers Club, Band, the “Hitching Post” Staff, Messenger Club, and the Track Team, but an exemplary Boy Scout and Auxiliary Policeman, which he credits for his high marks in his Army training.

David enlisted January 19, 1943 and served in the US Army Air Corps. He was assigned to the Headquarters of the 20th Airforce, his active duty service number was 32724445.

During World War II, the 20th Air Force was established on April 4, 1944, in Washington, D.C., and was unique as it was initially commanded directly by Gen. Hap Arnold from the Pentagon. Its operational headquarters moved to Guam on July 16, 1945, to command B-29 Superfortress bombing missions against Japan.

Through the “Campus Capers’ magazine that united alumni of Rye High, he was able to meet up with a former graduate, George Bayha, while serving in the pacific.

David married Florence Sterling of Leed, Utah in 1943 with whom he had a son, Lawrence. He lived in Rye where he was Scout Leader for the Boy Scouts Troop that he had learned so much from when he was younger.

He later married Dolores Tisdell of Florence, Utah in 1975 and the two had a daughter, Maureen.

He worked as a business manager and accountant for the Nevada Power Company in Las Vegas before retiring to Florence, AZ in 1996, where he spent time enjoying the outdoors. He liked to golf, square dance and go camping and hiking.

David F. Adams Jr. passed in 2007, and at that time was survived by his wife Dolores, his children Lawrence Adams and Maureen Predmore, along with his five grandchildren.

Elizabeth Waters
Rye High School, Class of 2023