I was asked to give the eulogy:
My grandpa began his turn on earth August 22, 1920 in
Salt Lake City with an instant partner in crime, his twin brother Vern. Born to
George and Olga Adair “The twins” as they were referred to, were the second and
third of five brothers and kept the family constantly on their toes.
When they were eight, the twins were taken on a streetcar
down to the temple grounds in Salt Lake City. They were baptized in the
baptismal font in the Tabernacle. He always remembered the twelve oxen that held
the font.
Full of life, energy and a fully functioning “Adair”
gene, the twins always backed each other up and always had a good time – no
matter what they were doing: whether sneaking into the family store to raid the
candy counter, taking a donkey to school dressed up like miners, or picking
fights with the biggest kid in school.
They loved sports – particularly baseball and football. Their primary baseball team won the all-city
championship with Grandpa as the catcher and Vern was the pitcher and they made
a great team.
When they were about 11 years old, their uncle Lee
decided he didn’t like their names – Vern and Verl – and so he started calling
them by Bob and Dick and they used those names ever since.
After graduating from East High School, Grandpa, a young man
with a purpose and determination, wanted to get to California for a great job
on a ranch. With no other means to get there, he jumped in a boxcar and took
the train the whole way. Well, the great job ended up being not so great, it
was shoveling manure, and he jumped in a boxcar and rode all the way back home.
In 1940 Grandpa joined the Army air corps with the goal
of becoming a pilot. Before he could complete his training, he was in a
devastating accident. Left with a broken back and a year and half recovery in
the hospital, the doctors told him he would never fly. He was then honorably
discharged and made his way back to Utah. While attending Utah State he started
flight school – and against the odds was able to fly and receive his pilot’s
license.
As he built up his flight hours he moved to California
and started working for Swift Air Service. It was here that he was first
introduced to his soon to be wife, my Grandma. Grandma recalls being told about
a handsome new pilot – who wasn’t just one of those airport bums. Grandpa said
she was the most beautiful woman he ever saw. Grandma fell in love with him at
the Valentine’s dance. Grandpa asked her to marry him while flying in a
two-seat airplane. Grandma said yes and they were married in April of 1947, 64
years ago.
With Danny in tow, they moved back to Salt Lake City to
help with the family business. Soon after, David and Dana came along and so did
a captain position with Frontier. The family then moved to Aurora, Colorado to
a house on Del Mar Circle where Danny and David wrestled and rolled their way
through childhood.
Grandpa loved his kids; he loved being a father and was
very supportive of them and their activities. He went to all of boys sporting
events and was an avid fan. Dana remembers him bringing and fashioning a
charcoal grill for her and the rest of the cheerleaders at a very cold game.
When my dad and two of his friends made the newspaper page for shaving their
heads which at the time was kind of a big deal, Grandpa came right in and stood
by the boys. In the article they quoted Grandpa saying “what was done was done;
I pitched in and trimmed all three of them up all neat and clean.”
They enjoyed going on family trips together, camping and
boating.
As the grandchildren came, Grandpa settled into his new
role nicely. Being the type of Grandpa who taught you how to do things, who
went water skiing and fishing, played games with you, and let you drive the
boat. Who got the video camera out and to capture the good times. Who rode
roller coasters and gave you scriptures. Who you knew loved you and wanted what
was best for you.
Later on, he and Grandma had the opportunity to serve
missions in Western Samoa and in the Washington DC temple. They also enjoyed
serving in the Denver Temple as temple workers. They had fun traveling and were
able to go all over the world and treasured being together. They found joy in
their great-grandkids with family always remaining the center.
He was a man who could fix anything.
He was enthusiastic and upbeat and fun to be around.
He had a great feeling for practical jokes – and loved to
laugh.
He had fun playing cards and games.
He liked to fish and golf.
But most of all, Grandpa loved the Lord, he loved his
family and he loved to fly (in that order).
The last several months Grandma cared for Grandpa – and
everyday, Grandpa would make it a point to tell her thank you. He loved her so
very much as she did him. In a card to Grandpa not too long ago, Grandma wrote:
You have been a true partner in this
dance of life. For sixty-three years I’ve loved being your wife. The tempo has
varied during all these years but we’ve kept on “swinging” through good times
and tears… Once in a while you’ve stepped on my toes, but when you’re learning
to dance that’s just how it goes. Now we’ve learned all the steps and they’re
playing our song – may I have this last dance till our days are all gone?
Only a few days ago, Grandpa said to Grandma, aren’t we lucky – aren’t we lucky we have the gospel in our lives.
I feel so blessed to have lived
close to this couple and to have had my grandpa take an active part in my life,
my sister’s life and in the lives of my cousins. We were all fortunate to truly
know him. I know we all loved and looked up to him and have many memories of
the wonderful and fun times we had with him.
As Ezra Taft Benson said to him after ordaining him, “May
the Lord Bless you and the Devil miss You.”
