SOUTH PORTLAND — Gordon Franklin Adams, 79, died peacefully at his home on June 1.
On Feb. 11, 1930, he was born in Portland, son of George Franklin and Marion (Wentworth) Adams.
He graduated from Deering High School in 1948; Portland Junior College in 1950; and University of Bridgeport in 1952 with a degree in advertising.
He began his career at Kemper Insurance Company in Boston and then worked for Barnes, Rouillard and McPherson in Claremont, N.H. He was hired as a sales agent for Horace Mann Insurance Company, which grew into a successful career in a management position in Maine.
In 1952, he married the love of his life, Gretchen Seavey, and began their life together in Boston. After moving to New Hampshire, they had three children before eventually settling in South Portland in 1968.
He was passionate about the arts, beginning studies in clarinet as a boy and playing clarinet and saxophone in the Deering High School Band. After his retirement from the insurance business, he enjoyed volunteering at the Portland Museum of Art as a docent and selling museum memberships. He was honored to receive the title of Docent Emeritus upon his retirement from the PMA. An artist himself, he created beautiful wood carvings that he shared with loved ones. A favorite pastime was visiting art museums and attending the opera with his wife Gretchen.
He was a well-loved and admired man who will be greatly missed by all who knew him.
He was predeceased by a son, Jeffrey Stephen Adams.
Surviving are his beloved wife of 56 years, Gretchen, of South Portland; his daughter Cindy and her husband Chris Blanchard of Steep Falls, and son Bob Adams and his wife Linda of Falmouth; five grandchildren whom he absolutely adored, Caryn and CJ Blanchard, and Maddy, Ellie and Charlie Adams.
Visiting hours will be held from 4-7 p.m., June 4, at Hobbs Funeral Home, 230 Cottage Road, South Portland.
A memorial service will be 11 a.m., June 5, at the First Congregational Church, 301 Cottage Road, South Portland.
Memorial donations may be made to Crisis Ministry, First Parish Church, UCC, 301 Cottage Road, South Portland, ME 04106 or to the Portland Museum of Art, 7 Congress Square, Portland, ME 04102.
Arrangements are by Hobbs Funeral Home, 230 Cottage Road, South Portland.
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