Jackie Vinson Adams

Jackie Vinson Adams was born August 8, 1931, in Ft. Cobb and died May 14, 2015 in Oklahoma City. He was 83 years old. Jack was the son of Iman Vinson and Eva Mildred Adams. He grew up in Anadarko. After high school he joined the U.S. Navy serving from August 1950 to June 1954. He was a veteran of the Korean War. Jack attended Central State College. Jack worked for Oklahoma Natural Gas for 30 years in Oklahoma City, Ponca City and Ardmore, retiring in 1986. Jack loved all sports but baseball was his game. He played in the Navy and for the ONG Gassers sandlot team the won the state championship in 1958 and 1959. Jack was also an excellent pool player – he could make some unbelievable shots and won a lot of money over the years playing pool. In his retirement his favorite past time was watching his grandsons play baseball. He also enjoyed betting on the horse races at Remington Park and going to the casino. Jack was married to Rose "Gert" White for 20 years. They had 2 daughters, Sue and Patricia, who he was very proud of. Preceding him in death was his father, Iman; his dad, Bill Rife; his brothers – Billy Adams, Kenneth Adams, and Johnny Rife; his sister, Alice Willis and a daughter. Jack is survived by his mother Eva Rife of Oklahoma City; his daughters and their husbands – Sue and Max Payne of Bartlesville and Patricia and Jeff Peles of Edmond; his grandsons – Adam Dorris and his wife Allie of Houston, TX, Kyle Dow and Christopher Dow of Oklahoma City, and Clayton Peles of Edmond; an aunt – Joyce Cloud of Blanchard; and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins. Visitation with the family will be held at Smith and Kernke Funeral Home, 14624 N. May Ave., Oklahoma City, on Friday, May 22, from 3-5 p.m. A private burial will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, please make donations to The Salvation Army, 2401 N. Kelley Ave., Edmond, OK 73013, in Jack's memory.