Howard Adams

Howard Red Adams, 92, a summer resident of Barton, Vermont, and winter resident of Georgetown, Massachusetts, died peacefully on September 18, 2012, in Newport, Vermont. Howard was born on October 4, 1919, in Webster, Massachusetts, the only child of James Adams and Lillian Townsend Adams. He grew up in nearby Uxbridge, graduated from Uxbridge High School, and later attended Worcester Trade School. During World War II, he served in the U.S. Army Coastal Patrol, stationed in Ellsworth, Maine, and later as a corporal and sharpshooter in the infantry of the 3rd Division, 7th Army under General George Patton. He saw action in French Morocco, Italy, France, Austria and Germany and was proud to have served on several missions with Audie Murphy, the most decorated soldier of that war. Howard married Miriam Doane Stranger in 1948 and became stepfather to her two adult children, Marilyn Stranger and Walter Verne Stranger. He and his wife moved from Ellsworth, Maine, to Georgetown in 1950, and he began his career as a machinist at United Shoe Machinery in Beverly. In 1954 they bought a summer cottage in a remote area of northern Maine, where the hunting and fishing were excellent. They replaced that cottage in 1977 with another at Crystal Lake in Barton where, following Howards retirement in 1982, they lived each year from May through October. For most of his life, Howard was an avid fisherman and was a longtime member of the Georgetown Fish and Game Association. He also enjoyed playing, coaching, and watching baseball. He always tried to be a good neighbor and friend and was fortunate to be surrounded by both. In recent years in Barton, he especially enjoyed the camaraderie and card games at the Barton Senior Center. In Georgetown, he looked forward every day to coffee, a muffin, and laughter with his many friends at Theos Restaurant. Howard is survived by his four grandchildren: Dale Manos of Sierra Vista, Arizona; Valerie Manos Lounsbury and her husband Bill Collins of Lost River, West Virginia; Pamela Stranger Longo and her husband Bob of Longs, South Carolina; and Dana Stranger and his wife Pat of Johnstown, Pennsylvania; nine great grandchildren; and eight great great grandchildren. He also will be missed by his adopted family in Barton: Jack and Dorothy Ruggles, Lyndsay Ruggles Sykes and her husband Barry and daughter Avery, and goddaughter Laura Ruggles Nye and her husband Andrew. He was predeceased by his beloved wife Miriam in 1990, his stepdaughter Marilyn in 2003, and his stepson Walter in 2011. A memorial service will be held at the Conte Funeral Home, 14 Pleasant Street, Georgetown, on Saturday, September 29 at 1:00 P.M. Should friends desire, contributions in Howards memory may be made to the Erie 4 Fire Association, P.O. Box 133, Georgetown, MA 01833. For directions or to offer online condolences please visit www.contefuneralhomes.com