William Allen Adam

William Allen Adam, a proud veteran of the United States Air Force, passed away Dec. 14, 2022, at his home in Alexandria, La., after suffering complications from Parkinson’s Disease. He was 91-years-old. William, known as Bill by his friends, was born July 5, 1931, the first of nine children to Carl and Mary (Sandifer) Adam. He graduated from high school in Nevada, Mo., in 1949 and then married his high school sweetheart and love of his life, Mary Louise Caldwell, the same year. They were married 59 years when Mary predeceased him on June 8, 2008.

William enlisted in the United States Air Force in 1951, serving 21 years, first as a clerk typist, then as an aircraft electronic countermeasures repairman and ultimately a precision measurement specialist, testing and calibrating instruments and equipment used on the aircrafts, after receiving specialized training at Keesler AFB in Biloxi, Miss. He was also an instructor in his area of expertise and received an award for his teaching. He retired as a Technical Sergeant in August of 1971, moving his family to Kansas City where he worked at electronic and camera repair shops and then the Social Security Administration until 1978 when he fully retired from the work force. During his 21 years in the USAF, he was stationed in Colorado, Michigan, Florida, Texas, Louisiana, Iceland, Vietnam, and the Philippine Islands.

After retiring, he and his wife, moved to Blountstown, Fla.; then Palestine, Texas, and then Ellington, Mo., where his wife passed away in 2008. After her death, he moved to Nevada, Mo., where he lived for 11 years.

William then moved to Alexandria, La., in 2019 to live in England Oaks Adult Living Community (formerly England Air Force Base), to be closer to his youngest daughter, Madeline Lee, who survives him. William is also survived by his daughter, Valerie Adam Scattebo, of Quincy, Ill. His daughters, Fabiene Dix and Sylvia Moss, predeceased him.

He is survived by two sisters, Patty Rogers of Ruston, La., and Charlotte Poore, of Quincy, Ill.; and one brother, Terry Adam, of Chesterfield, Mo. 

William was an avid photographer, collecting cameras and always shooting photos, whether you wanted him to or not. His knowledge and love of cameras resulted in some incredible friendships with other camera enthusiasts. He never stopped learning, was an avid reader and kept abreast of world events. He was an animal lover, having many pets over the years, many of which were strays that he adopted.

In his own words, his hobbies included “Clocks, Cameras, Cadillacs and Cats.”

He enjoyed meeting new people, learning their stories and discovering connections. This gentle, loving, caring and wonderful man has left a permanent mark etched upon our hearts and will be supremely missed by his family and friends.

The funeral service will be held at 10 a.m., Wednesday, Dec. 21, at Ferry Funeral Home. Interment with military honors will follow in Mt. Calvary Cemetery in Nevada, Mo.

In lieu of flowers, please instead donate to one of Bill’s two favorite charities: Wounded Warriors and Nature Conservancy.

View obituary and send condolences online at www.ferryfuneralhome.com.