Our wonderful dad and grandpa, "Hardy" as known by all, was born on December 26, 1926, to Ancel J. and Gertrude Adams, in the town he loved, Parowan, Utah. He passed away with family around him, March 10, 2016, in Salt Lake City, Utah.
World War II interrupted his senior year of high school and he joined the Army as soon as he was of age, missing the graduation ceremonies for boot camp. He did, however, receive his graduation certificate later from the school janitor.
He was on board a transport ship headed to the assault of the Japanese mainland, when the war in the Pacific ended and the atomic age began. He described the devastation as his ship entered the port at Nagasaki. His orders were to disarm the civilian populace and undertake a friendly occupation.
Upon his return to the U.S., he married his sweetheart, Dorythe Dalton, July 11, 1947, in the St. George Temple. Eleven months later, they had the first of their 6 children.
Hardy was the first of his 10 siblings to go for post high school education and training. This was in the school of diesel mechanics located in Portland, Oregon and Los Angeles, California. With these credentials he quickly acquired a job with the coal mine and in short order proved his value in maintaining large diesel equipment. His career blossomed when they moved from Parowan to Salt Lake City in 1955 to work for Garrett Freight Lines and then to his long term employer, Wasatch Electric and Power Line Company. To put it lightly, he was a mechanical genius, very resourceful and creative. He would take army surplus tanks and trucks and create useful and efficient equipment for the building of great power lines that stretched over the mountains and prairies of the West.
Hardy was a teacher to his children and grandchildren by his actions more than his words. But when he did use words, they rang true because of the way he lived his life. One thing he would say was, "if a thing is worth doing, it is worth doing right."
Dad was a quiet servant, as witnessed by only those closest to him. A former bishop confided, "it wasn't known by many, but when I needed a person to go help someone in the ward I would call upon Hardy, he would always ask that it remain anonymous." He was a respectful active member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
All of his children have many stories of times they witnessed his quiet service, never wanting to be acknowledged. He was a great example of how we should live our lives and serve others.
He had a reserved nature but among those that he worked with and those closest to him, he would display a great humor and friendly side that reflected respect and trust by large group of associates.
Dad was most proud of his family; he would frequently describe our family as the best family that anyone could ever ask for. He is a loved and respected patriarch of a wonderful expanding family.
Dad was preceded in death by his sweetheart, "Dot," a year ago. He is survived by his children, Kerry (Teresa) Adams, Amber (Steve) Bright, Susan (Danny) Mecham, Jill (Wolfgang) Zeisler, Julie (Gary) Satterlee and J.D. (Kristin) Adams, and many grandchildren and great grandchildren.
We will celebrate his life at a funeral, Saturday March 19, 12:00 Noon, Larkin Mortuary, 260 East South Temple, Salt Lake City. Interment will be in the Parowan City Cemetery at a later time to be announced.
We want to thank all those who helped take care of our wonderful dad, in the last years of his life, at home and in care centers. Thank you to the VA nursing home in Ogden and also the Salt Lake VA home.
We love you and miss you, dad, and thank you for being the best dad and grandpa anyone could ever ask for! We know we will see you and mom again!
