Delbert William Adair

Delbert was named after his uncle Dell, who was Snook's brother. When Snooks died Delbert was only sixteen years old. He had the responsibility to help take care of his brothers and sisters. While Mildred was in Phoenix finding a job, Delbert drove his brothers and sisters and belongings from Pinetop to Phoenix.

Delbert grew up in Pinetop. He was popular in school with the girls. He was a good dancer and played the guitar and sang very well. His dad used to call him "pretty boy." His mom use to tell the story of how he and Snooks would be sawing wood and his dad would say, "Pretty boy has to stop and comb his hair."

Delbert was first married September 22, 1952 to Wilma Doris Dear. She is the daughter of John Hardy Dear and Elizabeth Littleton. They met in Cashion, Arizona and were very young when married. Delbert was seventeen and Wilma only sixteen. They had one daughter, Lana Gail Adair, who was born May 10, 1953 and died shortly after on May 11, 1953 in Lordsburg, New Mexico. Delbert and Wilma divorced not long after Lana died.

Delbert then met Janice Rae Holliday and they were married March 21, 1955 in Phoenix, Arizona. Janice is the daughter of Samuel Jay Holliday and Mildred Waldeana Webb. They were not crazy about their daughter marrying someone who was four years older and had been married before. Delbert was twenty at the time and Janice sixteen. Delbert and Janice had four boys: Delbert William Jr., Daniel Edward, David Wallace, and Darrell Leslie.

Delbert worked as a lather and helped build Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum. His family lived in many different places until they finally settled at the house his mother owned at 3321 E. Yale St., Phoenix, Arizona 85008.

While living in Phoenix Delbert worked as a remodeling contractor. He was licensed, bonded, and insured. His sons worked on and off with him while they went to school. They specialized in exterior painting as Delbert had an airless superbee that really pumped out the paint. He also had a full-time worker named Ron Meisner whose job was strictly boarding up houses that were in foreclosure. His job was to remove all debris to avoid a fire hazard and board up all doors and windows. Much of the work was down in rougher parts of Phoenix and it got to a point where he would not let the boys go down there for safety reasons.

Delbert enjoyed his home office in the back bedroom of his house. He had an additional telephone line for business. His home telephone number was (602) 955-5453 and the work telephone number was (602) 956-2652. He also played with the Citizen Ban (CB) radio very much and went by the handle of "Gambler." Other family members had the following handles: Janice- Lady Gambler, Delbert Jr.- Weightlifter, Daniel- Nashville, David- Golden Boy, and Darrell- Kool-Aid Kid. When Delbert died the station that he talked on which is believed to be channel eight was completely silent for twenty-four hours. One time Delbert kind of bragged how he had a call on both telephone lines and the CB radio at the same time.

Delbert was not large in stature. He was 5'7 and 155 lbs. He had blue eyes and brown hair. He developed quite a receding hair line and did not have a whole lot left like many other Adairs.

Delbert was a good man. He was very smart and had good common sense. He bestowed some solid qualities to those who were around him.

One achievement Delbert accomplished was to completely quit drinking alcohol about four years before he died. As alcoholism was a challenge to himself, including many family members and friends, his defeat of it was a big victory to everyone.

Delbert passed away of leukemia on September 14, 1976 in Phoenix, Arizona. He was laid to rest at Greenwood Memory Lawn Cemetery in Phoenix. He has been missed and look his family look forward to reuniting someday.

• Pictures of Delbert and Family
• Janice Rae Adair
• Biography of Lana Gail Adair
• Delbert William Adair Jr.
• Daniel Edward Adair
• David Wallace Adair
• Darrell Leslie Adair

Accesses: