Alvin Thomas Adams

Al Adams of Show Low, Arizona died suddenly on Sunday, September 9, 2012. Al and Betty, his wife of 65 years, had been to church that morning, then out to lunch. Al was 87 and it was his first heart attack. In 1943, by himself at age 18, Al had ridden a Trailways bus from the Dust Bowl of Oklahoma to California. He became a welder in the Oakland shipyards during WWII , honed his craftsmanship at his father-in- law, Fred Burt's Truck and Trailer Repair in Dinuba, CA, and finished his career as a specialist, welding huge stainless steel tanks for wineries around Fresno, and sold throughout the world. Al and Betty married in December 1946. They bought a home and raised Linda and Don, investing lot of sweat, studying and love to raise both their kids into good careers -- firefighter for Sequoia National Forest and electronics with AT & T. Al was barely 30 years old when he was given one of the biggest responsi- bilities of his life. It was 1955. he was chosen as the head of the building committee and purchasing agent for the construction of a beautifully modern new church, an open-beam, A-frame, sanctuary of knotty pine. The work was done entirely by volunteers like Al, craftsmen and even building contractors, taking time out from their paid jobs. Al and Betty had first met there, in the Dinuba Church of God. Al was a fine craftsmen throughout his life, from rebuilding Betty's first automatic washing machine in the 1950's, to rebuilding the engine in his first new car -- a not yet classic 1956 Chevy Bel Aire. For their retirement get away, he designed and welded an all-aluminum trailer, so that he could crank his fishing boat up on top of his camper shell, and still pull their travel trailer behind. Al and Betty followed the snowbirds to the mountains of Arizona, high in the ponderosa pine forest of Show Low. There they became part of the community of the White Mountain Bible Church. Al loved their quiet neighborhood, and took such pride and pleasure in the beauty of the wild sunflowers. Al's family includes Betty and their daughter Linda Adams and John Newman; their son Don and Vivian Adams and their family -- Amanda and Dave Perotta, Greg Adams and great grand daughter Katelynn, all of CA. Also in CA: Al's brother Perry and Catherine Adams and family. Al's aunt Katie Lu Coffey and family. Niece Sharon and Frank Diehl, and nephew Randy and Donna Morton and their families. Sister-in-law Lorene Burt and her family. Niece Barbara and Frank Krebs and family in Idaho. Family preceding Al in death: father and mother Alvin Sr. and Minnie Adams; Al's brother Harrel Adams, and Betty's parents, brother & sister. A memorial service will be held 10:00 AM Saturday, September 15, 2012, at the White Mountain Bible Church, 3171 Show Low Lake Road, Show Low, Arizona.