Noel Terry Adams passed away peacefully in his sleep early in the morning on June 14, 2021. Noel was born in Winchester, Massachusetts (just outside of Boston) on June 27, 1930 to Frederick Wildes Adams and Martha Noel Terry. After graduating from the Trinity School in New York City, Noel went to MIT before transferring to Oberlin College in Ohio where he graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science.
While at Oberlin, Noel joined a naval reserve unit and, after graduation, served in the United States Navy. He subsequently joined the National Security Agency before ending his military service in the Naval Reserve as a full Lieutenant. Noel went on to earn his M.B.A. from New York University. He worked for most of his career in the oil and gas industry with Gulf Oil, and then Chevron, retiring in 1985.
While at Oberlin, Noel met his future wife and love of his life, Donalee Edith Hunsche. They were married June 1, 1957. They lived in Caracas, Venezuela and then a number of different cities across this country before settling in Houston in 1981. No matter where they lived, their home was a welcome gathering place for family and friends. Noel loved his family more than anything and instilled in his three sons and six grandchildren the paramount importance of family. By his legacy, Noel also passes that same lesson on to his four great-grandchildren.
Noel was a long-time member of Memorial Drive Presbyterian Church, where he was a member of the choir with Donalee. He also loved being a “Grandpa” at The Yellow School House at MDPC and doing woodworking there with each of his grandchildren when they were in Pre-K. Noel was preceded in death by his parents and his brother, Frederick Wildes Adams, Jr., and also by his loving wife, Donalee, with whom he is now joyously reunited in Heaven. Noel is survived by his three sons, Terry (Anne), Jamie (Stephanie), and Andrew (Charlotte). Noel is also survived by his six grandchildren, Noel III (Deanee), Megan Hulings (Hayden), Lindsay, Henry, Peter, and Sarah, and three great-grandchildren, Noel IV, Riley Rose, and Hudson, and a great-granddaughter on the way, Mallory Anne. Noel additionally leaves numerous nieces, nephews, and other family members.
Noel’s family will gather for a private inurnment ceremony on June 23 in the Columbarium at Memorial Drive Presbyterian Church to celebrate Noel’s life.
In lieu of flowers, and for those desiring, the family requests with gratitude that contributions in memory of Noel Adams be sent to Memorial Drive Presbyterian Church, 11612 Memorial Drive, Houston, Texas 77024.
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