Teddy Alan Adams

Teddy “Ted” Alan Adams, 84, of Albuquerque, New Mexico, passed away on January 14, 2023. Ted was born February 15, 1938, in Lepanto, Arkansas, to Fred Adams and Edith (Spears) Adams. Ted attended High School in West Memphis, Arkansas. He joined the Air Force Reserve in 1954 and later enlisted in the Air Force in 1956. Ted was united in marriage to Margery Ann Burns on August 24, 1958. Three sons were born from this union: Lance, Scott, and Dirk. The couple lived in Seville, Spain, for the first three years of their marriage, where Ted was stationed at the Moron Air Force base. Their son Lance was born there. Ted was assigned to Lincoln Air Force base in 1961 when their second son, Scott, was born. He was assigned to Lowry Air Force base in 1963, a few months before the death of John F. Kennedy. Ted resigned from the Air Force and joined the Army, where he was accepted into the helicopter training program. He was stationed in Fort Walters, Texas, for the first part and at Hunter Army Airfield in Savannah, Georgia, for the second part. He received his pilot’s license and was promoted to Warrant Officer in April 1968. Ted was also a maintenance officer. Ted was sent to Vietnam in August 1968 and served in the 1st Calvary Division. When Ted returned in 1969, he was assigned to Fort Eustis, Virginia. The family lived in Newport News, Virginia, where their third son Dirk was born. After many years of correspondence courses, Ted graduated from Hampton Institute in Virginia with a degree in History. Ted was sent to Vietnam a second time in 1971 and served in the 101st Airborne Division. Following this second tour of Vietnam, Ted was assigned to Fort Hood, Texas. He and his family lived in Copperas Cove, Texas, and, in 1973, he was reassigned to Fort Carson, Colorado, near Colorado Springs. Ted retired from the Army on August 31, 1977. Ted loved to fly and was happy to get work flying for Petroleum Helicopter, Inc. “PHI” following his retirement. He flew in both Louisiana and California to offshore oil rigs. He also flew in Saudi Arabia and Africa. While flying in Africa, he lived on an oil tanker at the mouth of the Congo River. He flew for PHI for nearly 20 years. He also taught Cadets at the Air Force Academy how to fly. Beginning in 2000, he was a test pilot for the Army at Redstone Arsenal in Huntsville, Alabama, for approximately three years. He finished his flying career with the Federal Aviation Administration, receiving a Master Pilots award. Ted joined the Masonic Lodge in Spain and remained a member wherever he lived. He became more actively involved after being fully retired. Ted was a Past Master of Zia Daylight Lodge #77, Past Illustrious Master of Hiram Council #1, Past Commander of Knights Templar, and Past President of Sojourner Kit Carson #447. He was also a member of several other lodges. Ted also joined the Sons of the American Revolution “SAR” and became State President in New Mexico. He was also in the SAR State Color Guard. Along with flying, Ted enjoyed learning languages and storytelling. Ted was preceded in death by his son Scott, his parents Fred and Edith Adams, and two brothers, Fred Jr., and John William. Ted leaves behind his loving wife, Margery Adams; sons Lance (Julie Reagan) Adams, Dirk Adams, and Chris (Laurie) Campbell; granddaughters Beth (Joe) Carpenter, Stephanie Adams, Aubrey Orne-Adams, and Kiernyn Orne-Adams; great-grandson Milo Carpenter; sisters Mary Hoggard and Pat Love; brother-in-law Bob (Margaret) Burns; many nieces and nephews; and a host of friends. Ted will be laid to rest as a military veteran in Arlington National Cemetery. A celebration of life service will be held at Riverside Chapel, 225 San Mateo NE, Albuquerque, New Mexico, on Friday, February 3, from 2 to 4 pm. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Roadrunner Food Bank of New Mexico (https://www.rrfb.org/), a charitable organization providing food to people experiencing hunger.