Obituary of Thermond Eliger Adams

Thermond Eliger Adams died peacefully on January 26th, 2012 in Walnut Creek, California. Thermond was born in Bossier City, Louisiana to Mary Lisa Spikes Adams and Rufus Adams on April 4, 1928. After the death of his mother in 1934, he was sent to work on his grandmother's farm. Forced to plow the fields and forbidden to attend school, Thermond ran away from home at the age of ten and found a job in the mess hall at Barksdale Field Air Force Base. He attended Bossier City Colored High School where he played on the football team and developed a lifelong love for the sport. In 1942, he joined the Southern Pacific Railroad and made his way to California. At age 15, Thermond joined the Merchant Marines, trained on Catalina Island, and sailed the world supplying the war efforts for World War II and the Korean War. In 1953, he joined the US Navy and sailed as an officer on the USS Wasp. After his naval service, Thermond returned to school to earn his engineering degree from Milwaukee School of Engineering. In 1959, he went to work for General Electric where his first assignment was to work with the Knolls Power Lab to design and develop nuclear submarines. As part of the project, he was reinstated into the US Navy under the direction of Admiral Rickover. This work produced the first nuclear submarine prototypes for the US Navy. Over the next 30 years, Thermond worked as a nuclear and environmental engineer for General Electric's Atomic Power Lab and Nuclear Power Division, in Schenectady, NY and San Jose, CA, safely expanding the development of nuclear power for naval and civilian use. Thermond retired from General Electric in 1989. During his 30 years living in Aptos, California, he walked the beach regularly, learned martial arts, and was an active member of Aptos Post 10110 of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, serving as Post Commander from 1994-1996 and earning the title of All-State Post Commander. For the past ten years, he lived in Elk Grove, California where he recently earned his yoga instructor certificate. He is remembered for being a proud father, inspiring mentor, and consummate storyteller. His quiet, comfortable confidence and tenacity will be missed. Thermond is survived by his sons, Thermond F. Adams and Thermond E. Adams II; his daughter, Khira-Lisa Adams Griscavage; his friend, Emma Balthazar; his second wife, Jacquelline Cooper; and his four grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his siblings, Paul Adams, Leatha Adams Johnson, and Mattie Adams Morris, and his first wife, Winsome Adams. A celebration of his life will be held Saturday, February 4th at 11am at Oakwood Chapel 3301 Paul Sweet Road in Santa Cruz. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Veterans of Foreign War (VFW) Post 10110 - Aptos at: VFW Post 10110 P.O. Box 928 Aptos, CA 95003