Obituary of Arnold Lawrence Adams
Arnold Lawrence Adams passed away March 17, 2019, in Sulphur Springs. He was born April 28, 1927, in Bellows Falls, Vermont. His parents were Benjamin Moses Adams and Lillian Martha Wilcox. He was the youngest child of a family of 7 sons and daughters (Frank, Bernard, Wally, Evelyn, Madeline, and Virginia) all of whom have preceded him in death as well as his parents.
Arnold entered the US Army in July 1945 and served continuously for over 31 years. His first overseas assignment took him to the Panama Canal Zone where he met and married his wife Rita. Their two daughters, Jean Marie and Karen Gayle were both born in the Canal Zone. Two sons were also born into the family. Keith Douglas was born at Ft. McPherson, Atlanta, Georgia and Mark Andrew was born at the Aberdeen Proving Grounds in Aberdeen, Maryland, and preceded his father in death by two weeks.
While living in Georgia, Arnold joined the Forest Park Masonic Lodge. He was honored with a 50-year certificate presented by the Sulphur Springs Masonic Lodge.
From Aberdeen, Maryland, to Tabriz, Iran, the family was separated for another year.
Arnold was accepted into the US Army Helicopter School in 1957 which started at Ft. Wolters, Texas, and ended at Ft. Rucker, Alabama. He graduated in 1958 and was assigned to Ft. Bragg, North Carolina. Arnold's next assignment was for Germany. Because of travel restrictions, families were not allowed to accompany their husbands at that time, so Rita and children resided in Sulphur Springs for one year. On arriving in Germany, the family lived in Mainz and then Schwabach, which is just outside of Nuremberg.
This tour of duty was followed by an assignment to Ft. Benning, Georgia. When the Vietnam War escalated and the First Cavalry Division was activated, Arnold did his first tour of duty in Vietnam. Upon returning home, Arnold was asked to join the White House Executive Flight Detachment and had the extreme honor of working and flying during the terms of Presidents Johnson, Nixon and Ford. Another tour of duty in Vietnam and again returning to the White House Executive Detachment ended Arnold’s Military career of 31 years during which he earned the following decorations, medals, badges, commendations and campaign ribbons. The Distinguished Flying Cross, Bronze Star Medal with 2 oak leaf clusters, Air Medal with 24 oak leaf clusters, Good Conduct medal, Master Army Aviation Badge, World War II Victory Medal, National Defense Service medal with 1 oak leaf, Vietnam campaign Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, Armed Services Medal, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal Dominican Republic, Vietnam Cross of Gallantry with Palm, Presidential Unit Emblem, Meritorious Unit Emblem, Presidential Service Badge, Army Commendation Medal with 2 oak clusters.
Surviving Arnold are his wife, Rita, daughters, Jean Webb and husband Ron of Sulphur Springs, Karen Reed and husband Allen of Tyler, Texas, son, Keith Adams and wife Terry of Jacksonville, Texas, eight grandchildren, and twelve great-grandchildren.
No formal services are planned but friends of the family are invited to call on the family at 225 Jill
Lane in Sulphur Springs on Saturday, March 30 between 1 and 4.
