Ralph William Adams, 1917-2011

ADAMS, CROWE, COWLES, GLOSSER, LARSON, YEAROUS, WADLOW, BRANNON

Posted By: Constance, IAGenWeb Volunteer (email)
Date: 10/15/2016 at 22:30:07

Ralph W. Adams
(August 28, 1917 - January 18, 2011)

Funeral services for Ralph W. Adams will be Saturday, January 29, 2011 at 1:30 pm in the Waucoma Historical Building (formerly the Federated Church), Waucoma, IA, with the Rev. Scott Keele Kober officiating. Interment will be at the Waucoma Cemetery, Waucoma, IA.
Visitation will be held on Friday, January 28, 2011 from 3:00 pm until 8:00 pm at the Waucoma Funeral Chapel, Waucoma, IA.

Ralph William Adams was born August 28, 1917 in Waucoma, IA as the first child of William M. Adams and Maude (Baskerville) Adams.

Ralph attended the Waucoma Public School. As a youth he was active in 4-H and enjoyed playing baseball. He graduated from high school in 1934 and attended Upper Iowa College in Fayette for one year. He attended Iowa State College in Ames, graduating in 1939 with a degree in agricultural economics. He was a member of the Alpha Sigma Phi fraternity and Alpha Zeta honorary agricultural fraternity.

While attending Iowa State College, Ralph completed the curriculum of the Reserve Officers Training Corps and was commissioned a 2nd Lieutenant in the Field Artillery Reserve branch of the US Army in June 1939. On December 1, 1939 he entered active duty with the US Army and continued until being separated from active duty on October 23, 1946. He participated in military operations in the European Theater from January 6, 1945 to June 19, 1946. His service was with the 42nd Infantry Division and then with Military Government units following the cessation of hostilities. He continued serving with the Reserves until 1953.

Following the war, he attended graduate school at the University of Minnesota receiving the Master of Science degree in agricultural economics in 1948.

Ralph and Constance (Connie) Crowe were married at Berwick, Nova Scotia, Canada, on August 25, 1949. Four sons and two daughters were born to this union. Connie passed away on November 27, 1974 after a long struggle with cancer.

Following brief employment with the bank in Waucoma, Ralph and Connie purchased their farm in March 1954. Ralph was a full-time farmer until his retirement.

He joined the Methodist Church in Waucoma as a young person and continued his affiliation and served as an officer in the former Federated Church of Waucoma for many years until it was closed in 1989. He then joined the West Union United Methodist Church.

Ralph served as a member on the Board of Education of the Turkey Valley Community School District for 12 years.

Ralph married Clara Mae (Cowles) Wilcox Glosser on December 7, 1981 at Ottumwa, IA. Ralph and Mae were instrumental in organizing the Waucoma Historical Society. They also developed the Waucoma Campground and actively participated in Fayette County tourism activities. Mae passed away January 6, 1997.

Ralph served as an officer of the Waucoma Cemetery Association and provided many hours of service to the care of the cemetery. He was a life member of the Waucoma Historical Society and the Iowa State Historical Society. He was a member of the Fayette County Helpers Club and Historical Society, Fayette County and Chickasaw County Genealogical Societies as well as the Iowa Genealogical Society.

Ralph passed away Tuesday, January 18, 2011, at the age of 93 at the Good Samaritan Nursing Center in West Union.

Ralph is survived by his six children, Robert (Phyllis) of Burke VA, Richard (Heather) of Dumfries VA, Carol (Craig) Larson of Swan River MB Canada, Paul (Cindy) of Saline MI, Carl (Anna) of Barrie ON Canada, and Margaret (Allan) Yearous of Lancaster WI; 13 grandchildren, John (Carolyn) Adams, Stephen Adams, Christina Adams, Karen (Chris) Buckley, Jennifer Adams, Sara (Shaun) Wadlow, Sean Larson, Kirsten Larson, Mark Adams, Krystal Adams, Janet Yearous, David Yearous, and Lauren Yearous; and 1 great grandson, Liam Wadlow; his sister, Roberta Brannon of New Hampton; and his brother, John (Jack) (Norma) Adams of Waucoma; numerous nieces, nephews, cousins and other relatives.

Memorials to the Waucoma Historical Society, the Waucoma Public Library, the Dollars for Scholars or other scholarship fund at Turkey Valley Community School District, or a charity of your choice are appreciated.

The Burnham – Wood Funeral Home in West Union, IA, is in charge of arrangements.