Funeral services for Don Carthel Adams, Sr., age 91, of Kilgore will be held at St. Luke’s United Methodist Church at 10:00 a.m. on Monday, April 19, 2021 with Rev. Darwood Galaway and Rev. Ben Bagley officiating. Private family burial will follow at Lakeview Memorial Gardens, 5000 W. Harrison Rd., Longview. Family will receive friends from 4:30pm – 6:00pm Sunday, April 18th at Rader Funeral Home in Kilgore.
Don passed away on Sunday, April 11th, 2021. He was born September 26, 1929 in Cedar Hill, Tennessee, the fourth of five children. He was preceded in death by his wife, Cynthia Burke Adams, his father, James Ewell Adams, his mother, Ruth Matthews Adams Butler, a brother, James Matthews Adams, and a sister Mozelle Adams Core. He is survived by his children, son Don Carthel Adams Jr., daughters Lynne Akin and husband Randy, Beth Hitchcock and husband Tom, and Ellen Bittick and husband Brian. He is also survived by his brother William Cofield Adams, sister Elizabeth Adams Ferguson, and his brother-in-law Charles W. Burke Jr., seven grandchildren, eleven great grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews.
Don attended Isaac Litton High School in Madison, Tennessee, and in 1951 graduated Cum Laude from Vanderbilt University. He then spent two years on active duty in the Navy and was stationed in Japan. Upon his discharge from the military, he began working for Anderson Hickey Company, a manufacturer of steel office furniture in Nashville, Tennessee.
In 1957, Don married Cynthia Sue Burke of Attalla, Alabama, after being set up on a first date by Don’s brother, Billy. Cynthia attended the University of Alabama, and at the time Don met her, she was working in the Pentagon in Washington D.C. Once married, Don and Cynthia began their life together in Madison, Tennessee. Then in 1971, they moved with Anderson Hickey Company to Texas, and though their family lived in Kilgore, Don worked for the company in Henderson. He began his career at Anderson Hickey Company as Bookkeeper and later served as Office Manager, Credit Manager, Secretary, Vice President, and finally, Director. He served as President of the Anderson Hickey Management Club and was a member of the National Management Association and The Stationary and Office Equipment Board of Trade. Don retired from Anderson Hickey Company in 1997, after 43 ½ years of dedicated service.
Don loved sports! As a participant he enjoyed basketball, football, tennis, and golf. Don was President of the Roy H. Laird Country Club, now Meadowbrook Country Club, in Kilgore, Texas, and when the old clubhouse burned, he was instrumental in rebuilding the new clubhouse that still stands today. When talking about his golf career, he always said that his only claim to fame was his hole-in-one on a par four hole! He and Cynthia enjoyed many hours watching their children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren play basketball, baseball, volleyball, softball, football, tennis, track, and golf. They traveled as far as Missouri and Florida to see them play.
Don and Cynthia loved to travel and were known to have visited 41 of the 50 states. Over the years, they visited Hawaii, Alaska, Canada, Mexico, Ireland, England, Scotland, Holland, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Italy and Israel. In their later years, they enjoyed taking their children and grandchildren on vacations to Destin, Florida, Dauphin Island, Alabama, Las Vegas, Nevada, Biloxi, Mississippi, and on a Caribbean cruise.
Don was a faithful member of St. Luke’s United Methodist Church in Kilgore, Texas, and was always involved in every aspect of the church. Over the years, he served as Chairman of the Administrative Council, Stewardship Chairman, and Chairman of the Finance and Endowment Committees. He was President of his Sunday School Class, Treasurer of the Methodist Men, and was a member of the Staff Parish Relations Committee. Twice, St. Luke’s used the Pony Express Campaign to raise its annual budget, and each time, Don served as General Manager of the campaign. Don loved his church!
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to the St. Luke’s United Methodist Church organ fund.
Sunday, April 18, 2021
4:30 - 6:00 pm (Central time)
Chapel of Rader Funeral Home
Monday, April 19, 2021
Starts at 10:00 am (Central time)
St. Luke's Methodist Church
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