Ben M. Colonel Adams

He attended Auburn University, and later graduated from Georgia Tech with a degree in Civil Engineering,

He entered military service as a Flying Cadet in 1940, graduating in July 1941 with silver wings and a commission as a Second Lieutenant.

His first military assignment was in Long Beach, California where he met his future bride and life long companion, Margaret Miles. They were married in July 1942.

Colonel Adams' early military assignments included ferrying all types of aircraft from factories on the west coast to combat units worldwide. He was later stationed in the China-Burma-India Theater where he flew missions "over the hump" into China in support of our bomber forces stationed there.

In 1945 he was assigned as commander of an air base in New Delhi, India, with the mission of operating a military airline for the CBI Theater.

Colonel Adams' post war service was primarily in military engineering, with assignments in Fontainebleau, France with NATO, and Wiesbaden, Germany with U.S. Air Forces Europe. A career high-light was assignment to Vandenberg Air Force Base, from 1957 to 1962 with the responsibility of participating in the conversion of World War II Army Camp Cooke into a modern Air Force strategic missile base. In this assignment, he was awarded the missile badge.

He had previously been rated as a command pilot. Colonel Adams retired from the Air Force in 1966 with over 26 years service.

Following military retirement he accepted a position with the California State University at San Bernardino, where his responsibilities, as Assistant to the Vice President for Administration, included planning and coordination of construction for a new campus at San Bernardino.

Colonel and Mrs. Adams moved to San Diego, CA in 1972 where they enjoyed playing golf, and traveling the world.

In 1991 they chose "The Towers" in San Antonio as their final retirement home.

Colonel Adams was predeceased by his wife of almost 60 years, and a son, John.

He is survived by a daughter, Jane Domeier and husband, Dan; son, Jeffrey Adams and wife, Susan Hunter, and son, James Adams; and 5 grandchildren.

A private interment will be held at a later date in Riverside, California.