Roy I. Adams III died on March 11, 2022 at the age of 74. He
passed away peacefully with his family by his side. Roy was
born in Providence, Rhode Island on January 16, 1948. He was a
22 year long resident of Tyler, Texas. As the son of a career
Army officer, Roy spent his childhood growing up in Mobile,
Ala.; New Orleans, La.; Agana, Guam; Yokohama, Japan; Brooklyn,
N.Y.; Orleans, France; Ft Campbell, Ky.; and Colorado Springs,
Col. Having the same name as his dad, Roy’s nickname was Chip,
as in “a chip off the old block”. He is preceded in death by his
parents, Roy I. Adams Jr. of Providence, Rhode Island and Mary
Evelyn Crocker Adams of East Providence, Rhode Island.
Roy graduated from Widefield High School in Security, Colorado
in 1965. He later joined the Air Force in December of 1967. He
was a writer and editor for several military newspapers, to
include The Stars & Stripes in Europe. Roy was assigned to
DaNang Airfield in Vietnam in 1971 and served as editor of the
Gunfighter Gazette. Throughout his AF career he received
numerous awards and honors for his achievements in writing and
public affairs. Being stationed all around the world, Roy lived
a very full life. He enjoyed traveling to “places most Americans
can’t even find on a map”. He served 21 years honorably and
retired as a Senior Master Sergeant. After retiring from active
duty, Roy continued working as a reporter for the Air Force
Times and in public affairs at Sheppard AFB in Wichita Falls,
Texas.
As well as being a gifted writer, Roy’s hobbies included
photography, cooking and baking, playing golf, traveling and
political activism. He often shared his op eds in the Tyler
paper.
He is survived by his family: daughter Jolene Oster (Paul) of
Tyler, Texas and their three sons, Tyler Oster of Big Bend
National Park, Texas; Ryan Oster (SeungYeon) and Roy’s great-
grandson Joon Oster of Navarre, Florida; and Davis Oster of The
Virginia Military Institute. His sons, Jeff Adams of Phoenix,
Arizona and Jeremy Adams of Tyler, Texas and his grandchildren,
Naomi, Jenna, Nathan and Jonathan. His sister Leigh Dolin of
Covington, Washington and nieces Kerry Hernandez and Christie
Webb. His sister, Lorraine Gmiter and husband Bill Gmiter of
Westminster, Colorado and nephews Clinton and Danny Gmiter.
Roy will be laid to rest at Ft. Logan National Cemetery in
Denver, Colorado on April 15th.