Marion R. Adams

Marion Adams, age 97, of Covington Ohio, passed away unexpectedly at Miami Valley Hospital Thursday morning, July 9, 2020. Marion was a loyal husband, dutiful American Serviceman, gifted mechanic, farmer, solid friend and loving brother, father, grandfather and great grandfather. Marion was raised during the depression to tenant farmers Melvin & Bessie (Morris) Adams, graduating from Newton High School in 1942. Marion was a strong, thoughtful, determined and perseverant man. These qualities aided him during WWII where he served aboard LST 491 as Radioman in both the Atlantic and Pacific theaters. Marion participated in both the critical Allied landings on Normandy beach on 6 June 1944 and the historic assault on Okinawa, the first of the ‘home island’ invasions of the fortress Japan. After the war Marion met, courted, and married the one and only love of his life, Fern Marie Wackler on April 8, 1947. Their meeting was somewhat fateful as Marion was driving his sister Vivian and her twin friends, Freda and Fern to a high school basketball tournament. By the drive home Fern was riding in the front seat with Marion. The youthful lovers eloped in Kentucky, a perfect plan they thought. Their marriage was congratulated in an announcement at a local dance. The newlyweds had to rush out to find their parents to inform them of the nuptials before they found out by other means. During their 68-years in marriage Marion and Fern raised five sons, Paul (Lynda), Kenny (Roxy), Marvin (Sally), William (Deanise), and Joe (Julie), and one daughter, Ann. With the support of his new wife, GI bill and Navy back pay, and the grit and determination he had learned early and relied on often, Marion moved to his farm on State Route 48 in 1947. The years following were spent pursuing Marion’s true calling which was farming. Marion and Fern grew tomatoes, tobacco, corn, beans, wheat, and hay. Workshops were built, concrete was poured, grain bins were erected, tractors were re-worked, fences were tended, seeds were sown, holstein cows were milked, and children were raised. Marion was a clever mechanic and tradesman. Twenty-six of his friends and neighbors requested his ‘modified’ F20 Farmall tractor, which Marion bettered by mating a Chrysler 6-cylinder engine and transmission to the factory transmission. After the conversion the tractors had electric start, a battery, and lights. He was a pioneer of on-the-farm tools. He modified a Waco glider frame – originally built in Troy during WWII – to construct a tomato harvester. Marion modified equipment so he could pull a corn sheller behind the picker through the field therefore shelling grain in the field. Rather than rely on local elevators, he designed and built a system to dry his grain on the farm. Modifying equipment to run on propane became one of his trademarks, which he passed onto his children and grandchildren. After his heart attack and lifesaving heart surgery in 1974 and 75, Marion was forced to take a less active role in the farm’s day-to-day operations. His brothers and sons became the primary muscle of the Adams’ farm. In ‘retirement’ Marion still helped daily with the less strenuous tasks. Emptying wagons, tuning carburetors, the occasional Ford 8N rebuild, alternator repair, and general oversight filled his days. In retirement, a different Fern and Marion started to take shape. They wintered in Florida and spent most of the summer fishing in Lake Erie. Caring for grandchildren became as common as had been milking and plowing in the decades prior. Marion is survived by his brothers; Max (Gloria), Sam (Jackie), and his sister Vivian Kinnison, as well as his 5 sons and daughter, 26 grandchildren, and 25 great-grandchildren. His 26th great-grandchild will be born in September. It was announced to Marion on Father’s day, that his newest great grandson would be his namesake. He was proceeded in death by his wife Fern, his siblings Jeannette Nicholas (Nick), Melvin, Jean Dershem (Dale), Dale (Mary), Verlin (Marsha), Bob (Rosalie), grandson William J. Robertson, and a great grandson. Funeral services will be Wednesday July 15, at Newton Local Junior High gym, 201 Long Street, Pleasant Hill. The family will receive friends from 9-11 a.m., memorial service following. Interment following at Miami Memorial Park, Covington. Pastor Nick Beam officiating. We would like to express our great appreciation to Sarah Fries for her devotion, for the care and compassion that she showed Dad. She made a place in his heart, soft. She made a place in our family. At Fern and Marion’s request in lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Hospice of Miami County.
 

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