Richard "Dick" Adair

MSGT. (Ret.) Richard "Dick" Adair was a man of strong faith, trusting fully in the power and strength of Jesus Christ and the peace awaiting him upon his passing. We mourn the loss of a treasured friend, father and brother.
Dad, Daddy, Dickie and even Pop were the names commonly and affectionately used by friends and family.  Dick was born to Louis Anthony "Luke" Adair and Sylvia Wynona Mills Adair later known as Pop and Granny. As a Gastonia native, he grew up in an unassuming home with his siblings Larry and Jonnie. His brother Larry passed away in December 2015. Dick's sister Jonnie and husband Alan Mabe, live in Salisbury, NC.
In 1966 he joined the United States Air Force and served a tour in Italy where he and his wife had their first child, Gwendolyn Leigh "Wendi". Later, back in the states, he was stationed at Andrews Air Force Base in Maryland where they welcomed their son, Thomas Anthony "Tony". He was a recruiter for the North Carolina Air National Guard and was stationed in Charlotte, NC with the 145th Tactical Airlift Group until his retirement in 1992.
Dick was a friend to many and he knew very few strangers. Known to strike up a conversation with anyone, he took interest in others and spoke of them like close friends. He was a member of First Free Will Baptist Church in Gastonia.  Dick is loved and will be deeply missed by all who knew him.
In addition to his sister, Dick is survived by his son Thomas "Tony" Adair and wife Julie Adair, his daughter Gwendolyn "Wendi", six grandchildren, Samantha Martin, Josh Jennings, Brooke Adair, Erin Shields,  Summer Shields and Alexis Adair, two great-grandchildren,  Cheyenne Martin and James Carlson.
A gathering of friends and family to celebrate his life will be held Wednesday, May 18th from 7:00pm-8:30pm at First Free Will Baptist Church, 2316 Union Rd, Gastonia, NC 28054.
A graveside service will be held at Gaston Memorial Park, 1200 South New Hope Road, Gastonia on Thursday, May 19th at 12:00pm.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Gaston Hospice (The Robin Johnson House), P.O. Box 3984, Gastonia, NC 28054. The family has requested no flowers please.
Arrangements are with the South Chapel of Greene Funeral Service and Crematorium, Gastonia.