MONKTON — Howard “Butch” Willard Adams, 72, passed away Feb. 22, 2021, after a brief hospitalization. He was born March 13, 1948, in Burlington, Vt., to George H. and Elinor (Sullivan) Adams, who have predeceased him.
Howard graduated from Vergennes High School in 1966. He received his associates degree from Vermont Technical College in Mechanical Design in 1968. Immediately following college he started his 30-year tenure with IBM.
While at IBM, Howard met Linda M. Clark of Hinesburg. They married in Hinesburg on August 21, 1971, and built their first home in Monkton. In 1980 Howard moved his family to Benson, Ariz., to help open a new plant in Tucson for IBM. While in Arizona Howard and the family participated in Boy Scouts where Howard was Cub Master for many years. Howard coached multiple soccer and softball teams for his sons while being active with his father George in the Benson Lions Club. In 1989 he had the opportunity to move his family back to his home state of Vermont. They purchased a home in Monkton, where they finished raising their sons, and where he resided until his death.
After retiring from IBM in 1997, Howard earned his CDL and drove for S.D. Ireland for a number of years until his full retirement. He spent much of his free time helping various family members with household improvements and was always willing to offer a strong opinion on how to complete the task at hand. He passed his love of home improvement onto his children. He enjoyed cooking and working around the house and relished any chance to use his tractors to complete a task.
Howard leaves behind his wife Linda Adams of 49 years; his sons Eric (Monkton) with wife Heather, and Scott (Essex Jct.) and wife Amy Paquette; as well as two grandchildren, Ryan and Natalie. Butch is also survived by his brother, Mark and Beverly Adams (Webster, Fla.); sisters, Claire Cunningham (Vergennes), Marthe and Robert Fisher (Bridport), Sharon and Otto Clements (Chesterfield, Va.); and countless cousins, nieces and nephews.
Howard did not want any formal services. A private graveside burial for close family will be scheduled in spring/summer. To send online condolences to his family visit brownmcclayfuneralhomes.com In lieu of flowers please make a memorial gift in Howard’s name to: BSA Troop 525 of Monkton, VT, 401 Piney Woods Road, Bristol, VT 05443.◊