Wally Adams

WINTER HAVEN - Charles Walton (Wally) Adams, Jr., 82, passed away Friday, January 8, 2016, after a longtime battle with Heart and Kidney Disease. He was born in Detroit, Michigan on August 22, 1934, Wally resided in Lake Alfred and Winter Haven, FL all of his life. Wally attended the University of Alabama and Florida Southern College in Lakeland, FL where he majored in Citrus and Business Administration. He married Patricia Ann Kingham from Louisville, KY in 1953, and had two children, Mary Pat Adams and Charles Walton (Beau) Adams, III. He spent his lifetime in Winter Haven, Auburndale and Lake Alfred, growing citrus and was President of Adams Packing Association, Adams Groves Inc., Gapway Grove Corporation, and Growers Fertilizer Corporation before retiring. Adams Packing Association was one of the first concentrate plants in Florida packing labels for many growers and employing many in our community. An avid Pilot with over 1,000 hours flying time, in 1964, Wally flew a DC3 from Maimi, FL to Manila, Philippines. His love of flying took him to fly a 104 Fighter Plane at Edwards Air force Base where in 1964, he received his MockII Pin (twice the speed of sound). He was also a member of 'The Quiet Birdman Society'. His love for speed also took him to the sport of racing Hydroplanes. He was extremely active in The American Powerboat Association, (APBA), serving as Vice President and Region Chairman for Florida and Georgia, The National Outboard Association, and was chosen for the 'All-American Racing Team' in 1953. As a driver and owner, he held several world records in the Hydroplane Out-Board Classifications. Wally was a world class angler and conservationist. He was a lifetime member of the International Game Fish Association, (IGFA), and in 1979, he became a member of the IGFA 10 to 1 club, and also the 1,000lb club, for landing a 1,312lb black marlin in Cairns, Australia. His love for fishing and tournament angling led him to be the only angler in the world presently to have won the prestigious 'Master's Angling Tournament', Palm Beach, FL in 1983, the 'Hemingway Marlin Tournament', Havana, Cuba in 1979, the 'International Light Tackle Tournament', (ILTTA), Big Belt, Cancun, Mexico in 1994, and the 'South African Deep Sea Angling Tournament', (SADSAA), Watamu, Kenya in 1997. He was made an honorary member of South Africa's National Fishing Team, 'Springbok's' in 1989. He enjoyed visits from many South African teams as they made their way to the United States. Traveling literally all over the world fishing tournaments, Wally took the sport of fishing both offshore and inshore and taught many children and adults in this community. He loved seeing the excitement of those who caught their first fish aboard his boat 'Fishin' Machine' and then explaining the art of conservation and release. He was past President of the Auburndale Rotary Club, past President of The Winter Haven Boys Club, and President for 27 years of Growers Fertilizer Corporation in Lake Alfred, sat on the board of The Bank of Lake Alfred, presently 'Wachovia' as well as the Winter Haven Hospital Foundation for 14 years. Wally received the honorary award of 'The Helping Hand Society' through his donations to the Florida Sheriff Boys Youth Ranches, Inc. for the period of his adult life, over 58 years of contributions. Wally and his family wanted to personally thank the physicians, nurses, the Winter Haven Hospital staff and emergency room services and staff, the Polk County paramedical services for there exemplary care he received during his long fight with heart disease. Dr. Richard Guisti, nurse Sharese, and Dr. Andrew Taussig from Central Florida Cardiology in Orlando, FL; Dr. Meredith Scott from Florida Hospital in Orlando, FL; Dr. James Koon, Dr. Jeffery Hou, and Dr. Gary Schemmer from Winter Haven, FL, Dr. Michael Keown and Dr. Edwin Lee from Orlando, FL; and Dr. Taheed Tai from Winter Haven, FL. He was preceded in death are his father, Dr. Charles Walton Adams; mother, Emmie Adams Gardner; sister, Mary Adams Strang; son, Charles Walton Adams, III; grandson, Blair Nelson Sweet; and stepbrother, Captain William Hill Adams. Wally is survived by his wife, Margie E. Adams; daughter, Mary Pat Adams; nephews, Mr. John Strang and family, Mr. Bud Strang and family, all of Winter Haven, FL, Mr. Max Strang and family, of Coconut Grove, FL, and Telluride, of Colorado; nieces, Mrs. Jerry (Eve) Bass and family, of Winter Haven, FL, Miss Missy Reynolds, of Lakeland, FL, and Staff Sergeant Anthony J. Garzon, of Hurlburt Field Air Force Base in Navarres, FL; cousins Mr. and Mrs. Charlie Reynolds and family, of Winter Haven, FL, Mr. and Mrs. Gordon Reynolds and family, of Cape Haze, FL, Mrs. Eleanor Henderson and family, of Winter Haven, FL, and Dr. and Mrs. Chuck Adams, of Detroit, Michigan; and longtime friends, Mr. and Mrs. Ben R. Adams, Sr., Mr. and Mrs. Ben R. Adams, Jr., of Winter Haven, Dr. William Adams, of St. Petersburg, FL, Jane Leigh Adams Smisson, of Macon, GA and their families. Funeral service will be at 2:00PM on Monday, January 11, 2016, at First Presbyterian Church of Winter Haven and internment will be at Oaklawn Cemetery. In lieu of flowers the family asks that donations be made to Florida Sheriff Boys Youth Ranches Inc., P. O. Box 2000, Boys Ranch, FL 32064, (800)765-3797, or The Salvation Army of Winter Haven, FL, 1898 Highway 17 North, Winter Haven, FL 33881, (863)294-7493, ext. 6. Oak Ridge Funeral Care in Winter Haven is in charge of arrangements.