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Anthony Adams Jr.

1943 - 2025

Anthony Adams Jr. obituary, 1943-2025, Spokane Valley, WA

BORN

1943

DIED

2025

FUNERAL HOME

Smart Cremation Texas

9220 Restland Road

Dallas, Texas

Anthony Adams Obituary

Anthony Adams Jr.
02/10/1943 - 08/30/2025
Anthony M Adams, Jr., 'Tony', passed away August 30, 2025, he is survived by his wife, Judy (Oke) Adams, sister, Marge Adams, Houston, TX, and son Chris Adams, Nederland, TX. Tony was born February 10, 1943, in Chicago, Ill.
Tony enjoyed the challenges during his lifetime career at Johnson's Flight Center in Houston and being a part of historical events. He received several awards in Flight Software Communication and Safety Issues during the Space Shuttle and Apollo Missions.
A few of several Awards include: 'Taking Charge of Safety in a Safe Environment' Award; Communicator Development Award; 'Silver Snoopy' Award for Flight Safety and Mission Success, presented to Tony by Astronaut, Ken Reightler.
Tony coached Little League Baseball and loved fishing with his son Chris and his fisherman friends. After retiring from United Space Alliance in 2011, Tony volunteered and was responsible as Vice President of Restoration for restoring the 100-year-old USS Battleship Texas, Volunteer Fire Chief for Nassau Bay. He volunteered to teach Texas Hunter Education, volunteered at the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department.
Tony remembers, at a young age, playing in the snow in Chicago. His Dad was in the Air Force and moved his family to Sacramento, CA. Later the family moved to Pasadena, TX. He enjoyed his Dad coaching Little League Baseball. As a teenager Tony managed three paper routes with a large number of subscribers. He was happy and thankful he had a motorbike. After he graduated from high school he had a job as a pin setter at a local bowling alley. He tells how he had to move . . . . . very fast. He joined the Navy and had a great experience being involved in another historical event of 1964. He served on the USS Bainbridge, (CGN-9) one of three ships, that were the First Circumnavigation of the world by nuclear-powered surface warships. The three ships sailed around the world in 65 days, not stopping for provisions. That experience was the very beginning of his love for cruising!
Retirement gave him the time of his life! He ventured out on 'real' cruise ships many times and was able to enjoy visiting several countries and had leisure time to enjoy touring ports.
Tony met Judy Oke, from Port Orchard, WA, on a cruise in May, 2014. A year later Tony planned their wedding and married Judy on the bow of the 100-year-old USS Battleship Texas, anchored in Houston TX. For their honeymoon he surprised her with a river cruise, the Danube, the Rhine and the Main. Tony enjoyed taking Judy on cruises and every January he would book a cruise . . . . . until COVID put an end to their cruising plans for a World Voyage in 2021! It would have been a second 'circumnavigation' of the world for Tony!

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by Houston Chronicle on Oct. 11, 2025.

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John Bradbury

October 16, 2025

So sorry to hear of Tony's passing. I remember him fixing problems with the FEIDs (Flight Equipment Interface Devices) whenever we flight software testers had an issue with our simulation runs. He was extremely smart! He will be missed.

Earl Ware

October 12, 2025

In addition to being a good friend, Tony was a problem solver when it came to the FEIDs and their controllers. Early in the Shuttle program, he spent hours digging through paper printouts. Later, when most of the data was stored online, he spent hours of staring at a computer screen. He and his team were always successful.

I will miss him. RIP, my friend.

Mario Cage

October 10, 2025

So sorry to hear of Tony's passing. To me he was one of the guys with all the answers. Always willing to help. I feel as though I owe him half my salary for all the help he provided to me. Sorry for your loss, McNasty.

Jean Zophy

October 10, 2025

So sorry to hear of Tony's passing. He was one of those experts who I frequently went to for help (when my shuttle FSW test runs failed) and he was always gracious in giving of his time and sharing of his expertise. I'm one of many who respected and admired him.

Linda Reed

October 9, 2025

Judy, I´m so sorry to hear of Tony´s passing. He was a good man and will be missed by many. He was one of Ray´s favorite fishing buddy. My sincere condolences to you and your family.

Ricardo de la Fuente

October 9, 2025

I appreciated and respected Tony. I enjoyed working with him when I was in the Onboard Flight Software of the Space Shuttle Project.
My prayers are with his family.

R William McAllister.

October 9, 2025

The McAllister family's thoughts and prayers are with you and yours. May his memory be a blessing.

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