Adeline Jean Maddux

Adeline Maddux was born Adelina Di Paolo in Gallup, New Mexico. She is a first generation American, the youngest of ten children born to Italian immigrant parents, Panfilo and Francesca Di Paolo on May 15, 1935. She has four children, Jack and Joseph(wife, Kathy), with her first husband, Red Wilson, and Kim(husband, Edward) and Cole with her husband, Harvey. They were self-employed in the produce business and moved from New Mexico to Phoenix, AZ where they lived a few years before settling in South Houston, Texas. Together they owned South Houston Farmers Market. Harvey Passed away suddenly in 1972, leaving Adeline to run a business and raise four children on her own at the age of 37. She continued the business until 1975 when she was given the opportunity to become supervisor of the City of South Houston Parks Department for Mayor Gene Kitch. She held that position until her retirement in 1995. Following retirement, Adeline enjoyed traveling with many friends, one being Mr. Kitch. Together they traveled to many countries including England, Spain, Italy and Holland. They took numerous cruises all over the Caribbean and to Alaska and Hawaii. On one memorable cruise in 2002, they were actually chased by Hurricane Isadore which seemed to change course and was predicted to hit in the area of each port their ship tried to escape to, from the Cayman Islands to the Yucatan Peninsula to the upper Gulf Coast. However, Gene and Adeline bravely outran the hurricane and managed to complete that cruise unharmed while others in their group disembarked in Louisiana, rented cars and drove home! Adeline's favorite place to visit by far was Las Vegas. She enjoyed being a "Lucky Lady" on the dollar slot machines and playing Keno. Adeline's four children gave her eight grandchildren who have given her ten great-grandchildren so far. The whole family gathered May 2014 to celebrate her 84th birthday and had portraits taken to commemorate the occasion. Her children are truly astonished at the large family they have become due to the life of one amazing strong woman.