Wells Vorce Adams

Welles Vorce Adams, son of L. Wayne and Fannie V. Adams, died peacefully on Sunday morning, April 22, 2018 surrounded by his children. A devoted husband, father, and grandfather, Welles was predeceased by his beloved wife, Grace, with whom he spent sixty-four happy years of marriage.

Born in Hartford on August 9, 1924, Welles grew up in Wethersfield and lived there most of his adult life. Upon graduation from Wethersfield High School, he attended Trinity College for one year prior to military service, after which he attended and graduated from Williams College, Williamstown, MA.

Welles entered military service during WWII in 1943 as a cadet in the Army Air Corps (precursor to the Air Force). Upon graduation from advance navigation school, he became a second lieutenant and navigator on a B-24 Liberator bomber. He was sent to the ETO 460th Bomb Group, 761st Squadron, 15th Air Force, stationed in Spinnazola, Italy. On a mission to Bleckhammer, Germany, Welles’ plane was shot down, and the crew bailed out over Croatia, Yugoslavia. For several months, Welles was reported Missing in Action before being identified as a German Prisoner of War. He was first sent to Stalag Luft III in Sagan, Germany, later to Stalag XIII-D in Nuremberg, and finally to Stalag VII-A in Moosburg from where he and 130,000 prisoners were liberated on April 29, 1945 by the 14th Armored Division of Patton’s 3rd Army.

Welles had a 41-year business career at the Phoenix Companies (formerly Phoenix Mutual Life Insurance Company), becoming Investment Vice President in charge of the Real Estate Investment Division. Upon retiring in 1988, he became a consultant for the Phoenix for four years before retiring to Naples, FL in 1992. He maintained residences in Wethersfield and Florida until 2016.

Welles lived a life of devoted service to his country, family, and town. A former president of both Wethersfield Rotary Club and the Wethersfield Businessmen’s and Civic Organization, Welles received the “Man of the Year” award from the latter. He was a deacon and chair of the Finance Committee of the First Church of Christ in Wethersfield, his home church of 78 years. Welles was active in local politics, being elected and serving for eight years on the Wethersfield Town Council, four years of which he was the Mayor of Wethersfield. For his service to the Town, Welles received the Republican “Man of the Year” distinction. He was also a member of the Hartford Process, the Capitol Region Council of Governments, and a member of the CT Conference of Mayors. In addition, Welles was Vice Chairman of the Board and a member of the Finance and Personnel Committees of Church Homes, Inc., board member of Jefferson Street Professional Building, a member of the Hartford Hospital Land Planning Committee, and an advisory committee member at St. Francis Hospital. In addition, Welles was a Director of Associated Construction Co., served the Wethersfield Historical Society as a member of the Investment Committee, and was a founder of Riverfront Recapture.

In Naples, Welles was active as the president of the Naples Continental Condominium and an avid golfer and member of the Royal Poinciana Golf Club. He especially loved golfing and flying. He was a private pilot and a member of the CT Valley Flyers. He was a member of Wethersfield Country Club and enjoyed most of all being a member of the Taconic Golf Club in Williamstown, MA where he attended college. In addition, Welles, Grace, and their children took many adventurous cross country camping trips which have become the source of much merriment and family storytelling over the years.

Welles was predeceased by his wife, Grace, and his siblings, L. Wayne Adams, Jr. and Ruth Banker. He leaves three adoring children, Barbara Mechler of Southbury, CT, Welles (Skip) Adams, Jr. of Hong Kong, China, and Sandra Williams and her husband, David, of Saratoga Springs, NY and six grandsons: Kevin Elliott, Eric Mechler, Christopher Mechler, Matthew Williams, Dean Williams, and Christopher Williams. The family would also like to thank the thoughtful, devoted caregivers at Avery Heights who often commented on Welles’ kind and appreciative demeanor. A friend to all, Welles will be greatly missed.

Funeral will be at the First Church of Christ, 250 Main Street, Wethersfield, CT 06109 at 10:30 a.m. on Friday, April 27th. There are no calling hours. The family will greet loved ones and friends immediately following the service. In lieu of flowers, donations in Welles’ memory may be sent to Williams College, 75 Park Street, Williamstown, MA 01267 or Avery Heights, 705 New Britain Avenue, Hartford, CT 06106. The D’Esopo Funeral Chapel of Wethersfield is assisting the family with the arrangements. For online expressions of sympathy to the family, please visit www.desopo.com.