Bertis H. Adams, 88

Westborough - Bertis Hayward Adams, 88, died Wednesday, June 20, 2007. He spent his final week at the Millbury Health Care Center, located on land formerly owned by his family, within view of his birthplace and childhood home at 310 Millbury Ave.

He leaves his loving wife of 29 years, Barbara (Goldstein) Bloom Adams ; his daughter, Barrie Adams Montross and her husband, John; his daughter-inlaw, Ryan Schmiesing Adams; his stepdaughter, Lois Shaevel and her husband, William; his stepson, Fredrick Bloom; his siblings, Dr. Howard Adams and Eleanor Adams Crecca; his sister-in-law, Charlotte Adams; his grandsons, Michael Adams, Anthony Adams, Joshua Adams, Matthew Montross and Benjamin Montross; his stepgrandchildren, Jordana Estner, Hillary Estner and Jacob Estner; and five great-grandchildren. He was predeceased by his son, Bertis "Woody" Adams III.

Born Sept. 26, 1918, in Millbury, he was the son of Bertis Hayward Adams and Edith Simonds Adams. He graduated from Millbury High School in 1937 and from the Wentworth Institute of Technology in 1939.

Mr. Adams was a U.S. Navy veteran of World War II, serving on the East Coast of the United States and the Pacific and achieving the rank of Machinist 1st Grade. Upon his return, he was employed by GTE and worked in the Needham and Westborough facilities for 24 years. He helped found the American Institute of Plant Engineers and served as its president for two years.

He moved to Westborough in 1947 and later became a certified tree farmer at Hardscrabble Farm. Longtime residents of Warren Street recall him contentedly riding his tractor across the fields and tending to his cattle, often after putting in a full day of work at GTE. Bertis Adams Way and its adjoining roads were formerly part of his farm.

Mr. Adams was deeply committed to his community and was a member of the Westborough Grange, American Legion Post 163 of Westborough, Siloam Lodge AF and AM of Westborough, and the Aleppo Temple of the Worcester County Shrine Club. On his last birthday, in 2006, he was honored for his 60 years in the Masonic Lodge.

Always devoted to the richness of the land and never one to mind hard work, he owned and operated tree farms in Westborough and Sharon, Vermont, until his death. In 1980, the official Massachusetts State House Christmas tree was from his land. One of his greatest joys was having family gather at his farm in Sharon to share stories of the days when his ancestors made their home there.

A memorial service celebrating his life will be held in the Evangelical Congregational Church, West Main Street in Westborough, Saturday, June 30, at 1 p.m.. Burial arrangements will be private. In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to the Westborough Fire Department, 42 Milk St., Westborough, MA 01581 or to the Westborough Food Pantry, P.O. Box 502, Westborough, MA 01581. Funeral arrangements are under the direction of the Rand-Harper-Pickering Westborough Funeral Home.