Calvin Hathaway Adams

CALVIN HATHAWAY ADAMS December 17, 1921 - February 8, 2009 Calvin H. Adams, 87, passed from this life early Sunday morning, February 8, 2009, at his home in Waco and into the arms of his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ just in time to attend the Sunday Praise and Worship Service in Heaven with his "darling baby", once more. Services will be held at 2pm, Wednesday, February 11, 2009, at Columbus Avenue Baptist Church with Dr. Ed Carter officiating. Interment will be at Coolidge Cemetery, Coolidge, Texas. Visitation will be from 6pm to 8pm Tuesday, February 10, 2009, at Wilkirson-Hatch-Bailey. Calvin Hathaway Jr. was born on December 17, 1921, in Coolidge, Texas, the treasured son of Calvin H. Sr. Bud and Ethel Vinson Adams. Sugar Sonny Boy, or Baby Bud, as he was often called, grew up in Colina, Munger, and Coolidge, working on the farm with the Navasota River as his playground. He played football for and graduated from Coolidge High School and was a member of First Methodist Church, Coolidge. During school holidays/summers, he and friends/cousins roamed Texas via hitchhiking, taking in the sights, visiting relatives/friends, working temporarily on road building crews in South Texas, sleeping on metal signs on the side of highways, in campsites in the woods or in barracks with enlisted cousins. For several years he made the trek to Gruver, Texas, to assist the Floyd Turner Family with their harvest. Immediately after high school he worked as a radio dispatcher at the Mexia Fire Station in Mexia, Texas; and then moved to Waco to work at R E Cox Department Store, with his sister, Ruth. Thru a friend he met the love of his life and future wife, Mildred Louellen Cannamore; and they enjoyed living and working in downtown Waco, courting on the grounds of Waco High School, attending Columbus Ave Baptist Church and all the entertainment available in the area. Shortly after the attack on Pearl Harbor, Calvin joined the US Army Air Corps Force and entered basic training at Biggs Air Force Base. Every other weekend, he would travel back to Waco to see Mildred and on alternate weekends he would spend performing "duties" for having left base the preceding weekend without leave. He was later transferred to Great Falls, Mont., and other bases, a little too far for weekend excursions. He talked of consistently having KP with that duty starting over at the top of the alphabet with every move, but its close proximity to the kitchen and plentiful food was appreciated. In May 1943, the 351st Bombardment Group 508th Bomb Squadron departed New York City on board the Queen Elizabeth for their destination of Polebrook Airfield, Northamptonshire, UK, where he was stationed from May 1943 thru Sept 1945, working as a B17 Flying Fortress mechanic. The Group flew 311 credited missions with 124 aircraft lost. During leave Calvin traversed the country with friends as they learned about England and tried to forget their friends lost in combat; had Clark Gable as a crew member during the filming of Combat America and enjoyed The Glen Miller band in concert. He talked of sleeping next to the lifeboats on the Queen Elizabeth in lieu of the assigned bunk way below; of having his uniform stolen while asleep at the Salvation Army one cold wintry night; of almost being left in Iceland on the trip home. For his service in WWII, SGT Adams was awarded a Distinguished Unit Badge, Good Conduct Medal and an EAME Campaign Medal with six bronze stars. Calvin made lifetime friends during those difficult times and in Dec 08 was one of 14 remaining living of the 508th Bombardment Squadron. Upon returning from WWII, Calvin went to work at General Tire & Rubber Co. where he was employed for 38 years, taking early retirement in 1983. He was a hard and dedicated worker, never turning down an extra shift or calling in ill. He was a loyal co-worker, declining to accept a supervisory position to ensure that his relationship with his many dear friends at the Plant did not change. On November 2, 1945, Calvin married Mildred Louellen Cannamore in a service performed by Dr. Dawson in the parsonage of First Baptist Church. They soon joined Columbus Avenue Baptist Church where he was baptized and where they both faithfully worshipped in person or via television for over 60 years. Calvin was a member of the CABC Frank Wilson SS Class. The couple lived in Mrs. See's Boarding House on N 9th until purchasing a new home in the "Circle" on N. 11th in the later 40's, where they nurtured their two daughters in an environment of faith, love and joy. In the 1950s, Calvin and friends from General Tire decided to go to barber school and made the trip to Dallas every Saturday until earning barber licenses. The next month or so a school opened in Waco. Calvin barbered for Buck Lyons on Elm Street and 15th Street on Saturdays, for many years. Unable to cut his own hair in the last few years, during his appointments he would regal those who did with Buck Lyons' stories. Calvin was a director and officer of the GenCo Federal Credit Union for many years. When he was honored for his service as he resigned during the 2001 Annual Meeting, he told how the money was originally kept in a cigar box in the early credit union days. After retiring from General Tire, Calvin began transporting cars for dealers with dear friend and neighbor, Marvin Good. Together they organized groups of retirees on a daily basis, sometimes several times a day, driving cars to destinations as close as Killeen and as far away as Tennessee and Florida. He thoroughly enjoyed this time. But when he became concerned for Mildred's safety after her 2000 back surgery, he ceased everything but grocery and other living tasks to stay by her side where he remained until she passed away on 9/7/07. With the loss of his "darling baby", a light went out that was not restored until he joined her in Heaven at 2:45AM on Sunday morning. Calvin was a gentleman's gentleman, a selfless, humble, kind and devoted husband, father, grandfather and friend. He could and did fix everything successfully once saying he just watched how he took it apart so he could put it back together in case he had to later ask for help, which he rarely did. He worked hard and played hard. He was never too tired after a single or double shift to take us water skiing when we would meet him at the door ready for the lake in our Yellowjacket boat he restored to perfection from a wreck it was named Jonna because he could never say one without the other. Most weekday summer mornings during swing/graveyard shift found us on the lake early, returning home just in time for him to eat lunch, take a short nap, and head to work. He loved hunting and water skiing with the General Tire group. Every Sunday morning and evening found he, mom, and us, on the back seat at CABC. One summer he sat on the back seat in the evening service memorizing one of his favorite songs, "How Great Thou Art" sorry, Dr. Bailey. In 1974 prior to becoming a grandfather for the first time, Janet began jokingly calling him "Peepaw". By the time Aimee was born, it had been shortened to Peep and he was lovingly called that by many. He was the ultimate father and grandfather, playing games, teaching the art of repairing flat tires, passing on his great faith in His Lord, loving unconditionally, forgiving always. While Mildred sent cards decorated with hearts, and red roses, Calvin sat close by. Although the table remains as it was on 9/7/07 and the chair now empty, we know they are together in Heaven praising our Savior hand in hand. We are devastated and will always be, but only for us. Calvin told us he saw Ruth and Mildred prior to closing his eyes to this world and immediately entering the presence of Jesus. We can not wait to join them. Our dad was a gentle, loving man, who will be remembered for so many wonderful things, but what we will remember most, and carry with us always, is his gorgeous smile and the memory of him kneeling by our beds with a kiss and a prayer every night of our lives at home. He was also preceded in death by his parents; sister, Willie Ruth Adams; infant sister, Chelsea Marie; and a host of others who are rejoicing with him in Heaven. He is survived by daughters , Donna Zemanek and husband, James, of Hewitt; Janet Slaughter and husband, Kurt of Lake Limestone/Waco; grandchildren: Aimee Zemanek of Dallas; Kara Gensert and husband, Michael of Radcliff, Kentucky; Jace Slaughter of Taylor; and Jantzen Slaughter of Lake Limestone/Waco; Sister-in-law, Minnie Cannamore of Livingston; a multitude of beloved nieces, nephews, family and friends; and extended family: Jackie Hawkins, Scott Ray, Lois Latham, Herman and Frances Reid, Roy and Bennie Roberts and Bruce Roberts. Pallbearers: Tom Cotton, Mike Kelley, Jay Bryant, Gil Horn, Jimmy Cypert, and Tommy Sykora. Honorary Pallbearers: Dennis Odom, Dr. Baxter Johns, David Chiles, G H Reid, Jack Holcomb, Harold Cockrell, Don Click, Harry Reed, Burton Lawless, Tommy and Barry Smith, Ferman Brown, Darvin Little, John Duty, Denny Diewritter, Maurice Walker, Charles Hampton, Charles Osborne, Robert Kirk, Gene Vardeman, Sam Triplett, Billy Waldrop, Winton and Gary Frankel, Curtis Holze, Dr. Dan Carroll, Leroy Tucker, Charles Adair, Louis Talley, Derek Gilliland, Dr. Richie Scott, Brian Hilton, Randal Roberts, Roy Roberts, Bruce Roberts, Dr. Ed Carter, Albert Pinto, Bobby Schatz, Kenneth Yett, Charles and Steve Beatty, GG Rost, John Ashby, Charles Moore, Alton Kirk, Jr., Carl Kirk, Charles Kirk, Hornor Shelton, the CABC Frank Wilson Sunday School Class, John Primm and the other 13 remaining members of the 508th, General Tire retirees, fellow GenCo FCU directors and so many more. We extend our heartfelt thanks and everlasting love to Teresa, Jordan, & Julie Nickell; Martha Portillo; Alicia Randolph; Jara, Orva and Ella McCoy for making him theirs and providing such loving care; Baxter Johns, David Chiles and Donna Fadal for brightening his days and becoming so dear; Donna Hogan, the Denver Lawless, Richie Scott, Roy Roberts, Herbert Kelley and Dr. Joe Weldon Bailey Families for every remembrance; our wonderful "Caldwell" neighbors, and Hornor Shelton and the CABC Frank Wilson SS Class for always being there. We will never forget. To Dr. Cathy Burbidge, Dr. Stephen Howlett and Dr. Richard Hurley for caring enough to make such a tremendous difference in his life this last year. To Dr. Edward Lee and Dr. Robert Gardere for providing long-time personalized care with such great respect. Special thanks to Debbie Jones and the Wilkirson-Hatch-Bailey family for providing such solace and extraordinary service during our darkest hour, again. The family invites you to leave a message or memory in our "Memorial Guestbook" at www.wilkirsonhatchbailey.com. I Thessalonians 4: 13-18