80 YEARS OF MATRIMONY
Roy Alfred Adams: Until his death, it was believed that he and his wife were the longest-married couple in the world, although the record had not yet been published
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Service is today for Roy Adams, 101
10/12/2007
Last Modified: 10/12/2007 5:18 AM
PRYOR -- Roy Alfred Adams, who in July had marked his 80th wedding anniversary with his wife, Bertha Adams, died Tuesday. He was 101.
Services are set for 2 p.m. Friday at the United Pentecostal Church under the direction of Stephens Funeral Home.
Adams was born Oct. 30, 1905, in Crocker, Mo., to Lucy and John Quincy Adams. He was one of eight children.
He attended Lead Hill Schools in Arkansas and barber school in Tulsa.
He worked for 35 years as a barber, retiring in 1980 and passing his shop on to his son Pokey Adams.
He married Bertha Naomi Nalley on July 18, 1927, in Wewoka.
When the couple reached their 80th wedding anniversary, they were contacted by the "Tonight Show" and "Good Morning America," but because of their poor health, they declined to travel to be on either television show.
They recently were contacted by Guinness World Records. Until Roy Adams' death, it was believed that they were the longest-married couple in the world, although the record had not yet been published.
When asked in July about the first time he met his wife, Adams told the
"I caught eye of her, and I liked the looks of her."
When prompted to say what she had looked like, he replied, "She looked like a younger woman back then."
Adams remembered driving a 1926 Ford coupe on their first date, although he did not recall the date itself. The couple dated for only six months before marrying.
About 50 years ago, when their children were mostly grown, they began caring for foster children. Over the years, they fostered about 200 children, and in 1986, Roy Adams received a certificate of appreciation from the Oklahoma Department of Human Services for his volunteer work.
In 1987, he was honored with the Service to Mankind award from the Sertoma Club of Pryor.
He was a member of the Centenarian Club of Oklahoma, and he and his wife attended the Northeast Active Timers Celebration of Centenarians reception, an Oklahoma Centennial event that honored Oklahomans who were 100 or older.
Adams is survived by his wife, Bertha Naomi (Nalley) Adams; three sons, J.C. Adams of Garland, Texas, Pokey Adams of Pryor and Lee Ray Adams of Locust Grove; two daughters, Helen Weaver and Wanda Fry, both of Pryor; 16 grandchildren; 27 great-grandchildren; and 25 great-great-grandchildren.
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