Donald 'D.C.' Adams

Donald C. "D.C." Adams, 90, of Cape Girardeau went to be with his loving wife and his heavenly family Monday, June 13, 2016, at Southeast Hospital.

He was born March 20, 1926, in Pocahontas, the youngest of five boys, to Archie O. and Elsie L. Moore Adams. He and Ellen Jean Proffer were married July 9, 1948. They were married nearly 60 years when she passed away March 10, 2008.

Donald 'D.C.' Adams

D.C. attended Bethel Assembly of God Church in Cape Girardeau.

His first job was farming for the family and other local farmers. When he was 18, he joined the U.S. Merchant Marines and served honorably from May 26, 1944, until Aug. 15, 1945, having received the Merchant Marine Emblem, Atlantic War Zone Bar, Pacific War Zone Bar and the Mediterranean/Middle East War Zone Bar. D.C. served in South Africa, West Africa, Italy, France and Jamaica. In October 2012, he culminated his U.S. Merchant Marines experience by participating in the World War II Honor Tour in Washington, D.C. He and his brother, John Adams, who served in the U.S. Navy, participated in the Honor Tour sponsored by the Poplar Bluff, Missouri, American Legion. He talked about this trip for months and enjoyed sharing his photo book with family and friends.

D.C. worked for Southwestern Bell Telephone Co. as a cable splicer, retiring after 35 years. He belonged to St. Marks Lodge No. 93 AF&AM, Valley of St. Louis and Capaha Rite of the Scottish Rite, The York Rite Bodies, The Moolah Temple of St. Louis and Cape Shrine Club, the Sword of Bunker Hill and Hi 12 Club. He also belonged to American Legion Post No. 158 in Jackson; he was a life member of VFW Post No. 3838 in Cape Girardeau and was a retired member of CWA Workers of America and Telephone Pioneers.

D.C. volunteered in the community, as well as the Missouri Veterans Home for many years. Although his favorite hobby was being a mechanic, he enjoyed Cardinals baseball, car races and going to county fairs; but he especially loved family outings and looking forward to everyone being home together at Christmas. He will be greatly missed by friends, family and all who knew him; he never met a stranger... Once you met him, you knew him.

Loving survivors include three sons, Gary C. Adams of Lawndale, California, Jerry W Adams of Youngtown, Arizona, and Danny R. Adams of Fenton, Missouri; two daughters, Cynthia L. Adams Rainwater of Cape Girardeau and Donna D. (James) Whittaker of Maumelle, Arkansas; 10 grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews

He was preceded in death by four brothers, Woodrow, Harold, John and Rusby Adams; two grandsons, Gary C. Adams Jr. and Joshua C. Adams.

The visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m. Friday at the chapel of McCombs Funeral Home and Cremation Center in Jackson. A Masonic service will be at 7:30 p.m.

The funeral service will be at 10:30 a.m. Saturday at the funeral home, with the Rev. Phillip Roop officiating. Interment will be in Russell Heights Cemetery in Jackson, with military honors.

Memorial contributions may be made to Shriners Hospital for Children, 4400 Clayton Ave., St. Louis, MO 63110, or Wounded Warrior Project, P.O. Box 758517, Topeka, KS 66675.

Online condolences may be sent to the family by visiting www.mccombsfuneralhome.com.