Jesse Emmett Adams

Jesse E. (“Jess”) Adams, Sr. age 97, of New Castle, passed away July 31st, 2020. He was a resident of Hickory Creek Healthcare Center and had suffered a stroke a week earlier.

Jess was born May 10, 1923, and was a lifelong New Castle resident. He was a member of the New Castle High School Class of 1941. He served in the United States Army and was in the European theater during World War II. On D-Day he was helping to defend England. He was wounded while in Belgium and was awarded a Purple Heart. Upon contracting an eye disease while stationed overseas, he was later transferred to a military hospital in Chicago and from there, received a medical discharge in May 1945.

Jess married his sweetheart Margaret R. Kaiser in Pershing, Indiana on August 28, 1942, on Margaret’s 18th birthday. They were married just shy of 77 years.

Upon his return to civilian life, Jess spent his entire working career in the automotive industry. In the 1940s he operated the Pure Oil beside the Spot Restaurant at 21st & Broad before moving to the Sinclair at 18th and Broad in the 1950s. He wound up moving to the Standard Station across the street and was there for several years before moving diagonally across the street to the all new Marathon Station. Jess left the service station business in the early 1960s and began selling new Chrysler and Plymouth automobiles for Herman J. Redd at 25th & Broad. From there he had his own used car dealership back at 21st & Broad while his oldest son Jim ran a Pure Oil station at the same location. In 1967 Jess began selling new Ford products for Bill Bruce Ford. He finished his career selling new Fords at the Jack Shields dealership in New Castle. Jess retired in 1978. In his retirement years he bought items from estate auctions and had large rummage sales at his home with the help of his granddaughter Jodi. He also continued to buy and sell quality used cars. He loved to find that perfect “cherry”, bring it home and detail clean it, and park it on Road 3 with a for sale sign in the window. His personal vehicle always had a “for sale” sign on the door! In his early service station days, Jess had a great love for auto racing. He owned a yellow jeep and could be found at several tracks but especially at Sun Valley (Anderson) and Mt. Lawn pushing off the “Roaring Roadsters”. His favorite thing to do was loving and supporting his family. He cherished his Margaret, his sons and his grandchildren more than anything else.

Jess & Margaret loved to travel. They spent many winters in Florida in their retirement years. From 1989 to 2006 they made more than 20 road trips to Colorado to visit their son Jesse and his family.

Jess was extremely active in lodges and fraternal organizations in New Castle for over a half century. He was a Past Master at New Castle Lodge #91 F & AM. He was currently a member of Sulphur Springs City Lodge #348, where he received his 50 Year Award of Gold in 2018. He was also a 50 year member of the Scottish Rite Valley of Indianapolis and the Murat Shrine Temple. Jess was also very active in the Knights of Pythias with his family. He was a 62 year Veteran and Past Chancellor and former volunteer of the Year of Crescens Lodge #33 of New Castle and was a Trustee for many years. Jess also received the highest honorary degree, the Degree of the Golden Spur from the lodge. He was active in the Grand Lodge where he was the Inaugural Grand Lodge Father. He was also named Pythian of the Year in 2004. He was also a Royal Prince in the Dramatic Order Knights of Khorassan, where he was a 50 year plus veteran. He also belonged to the Pythian Sisters. Jess and his wife Margaret were honored by the local lodge in 2006 by being selected as Grand Marshals for the annual KP Christmas Parade. Jess was a member of the First Christian Church on Bundy Avenue since the early 2000s.

Jess was preceded in death by his parents James E. Adams, his mother Blanche Goar Adams Lucas, his step-father Lester Lucas, wife Margaret (whom he always called “my darling Margaret”) who passed August 1, 2019; his eldest son James L. Adams; a brother Everett Lucas and his wife Donnie, a daughter-in-law Maridene Adams and grandsons Jon Adams and Tim Adams.

Jess is survived by his sons Denny Adams and Jesse E. Adams, Jr., both of New Castle. He is also survived by five grandchildren: Jodi (Keith) Goff of New Castle; Chris (Michele) Adams of New Castle; Jessica (Kyle) Larson of Middletown; David (Sheila) Adams of Fort Morgan, Colorado; and Marjorie Adams of LaSalle, Colorado. He is also survived by eleven great-grandchildren: Chrystal Adams, David Lee Adams, Merrick Adams, Diana Anderton, Maylan Adams, Destiny Hurst, Phillip Griffin, Celine Magdaleno, Mia Magdaleno, Paige Larson and Parker Larson; and several nieces & nephews.

The family wishes to thank the devoted staff of CNAs, nurses, dietary staff and administrators at Hickory Creek Healthcare Center for their excellent care of Jess during his illness.

The family also wishes to thank Julie Archey RN and staff of Southern Care Hospice Services for their devoted care of Jess over the last several months.

Funeral services will be held at Hinsey-Brown Funeral Service in New Castle on Thursday, August 6, 2020 at 11am with sons Jesse E. Adams, Jr. and Denny Adams officiating. Burial will follow in South Mound Cemetery. Friends may call from 4:00 until 7:00pm on Wednesday, August 5, 2020. Knights of Pythias and Masonic Memorial services will be conducted at 7:00pm. In lieu of flowers, please send memorial donations to either First Christian Church, 2000 Bundy Avenue, New Castle IN 47362, or to the Knights of Pythias Building Fund, P.O. Box 365, New Castle IN 47362. Due to COVID-19 and the governor’s mandate, face coverings will be required. You may express condolences or share a memory of Jess at www.hinsey-brown.com .

**You may watch the funeral webcast Live here .