Adams, Eloise 'Hally'

Eloise “Hally” Adams, 86, longtime resident of Solon, died Nov. 7, 2012, at Island Elder Care on Vashon Island, Wash.

Eloise Finch was born Feb. 16, 1926, in San Jose, Calif., the daughter of Henry D. Finch and Beatrice Pierce Finch. She grew up along the Mississippi River in Davenport, Iowa. Eloise graduated from Davenport High School in 1944. She attended the University of Iowa, where she played in the marching band and was a founding member of the Iowa Mountaineers. At the university, she was given the nickname Hally.

On Aug. 6, 1949, Hally married Bruce A. Adams and moved to the family farm south of Solon. Together they raised four children. She returned to the University of Iowa, graduating with a B.A. in physical education.

Hally's career was spent as assistant superintendent at the Iowa City Recreation Center. After she retired, she was active in the Pilot Club of Iowa City, serving as club president and Midwest secretary. She served on the board of the Johnson County Heritage Museum, as a volunteer and installer for Lifeline, a pen pal with Longfellow and Horn school students, a Rockin' Reader with the Iowa City School District, and a partner in reading with Southeast Junior High.

Hally was enthusiastic about life. She enjoyed gardening, fishing, photography, canoeing, making pottery, mountain climbing, and backpacking. Hally especially loved to travel. For many years she traveled with the Iowa Mountaineers and the Friendship Force Club, visiting countries all over the world. She even visited Timbuktu.

Hally was preceded in death by her parents; her ex-husband, Bruce; and her infant daughter, Rebecca.

Hally is survived by her family: her four children, Brint (Linda) Adams of Lake Alfred, Fla., Barb Adams (Ken Miller) of Vashon Island, Wash., Margaret (Craig) Tolbert of Conyers, Ga., and Robert (Debbie) Adams of Sparta, N.J.; seven grandchildren (Brad Adams, Bob Adams, Ashley Adams, Brian Dow, Neil Tolbert, Mark Adams and Jeff Adams); four great-grandchildren (Hayden, Emery, Eloise and Abby); sister, Marigene Finch of Bettendorf; brother, Bill Finch of Marshfield, Mo.; and many nieces, nephews and good friends.

She was loved and will be greatly missed.

A celebration of Hally's life is planned for Memorial weekend 2013, with burial at Oakland Cemetery in Solon.

Please visit the online guest book at www.islandfuneral.com, where you are invited to leave messages of condolence for the family.

Memorial gifts in Hally's memory can be made to the Alzheimer's Association (alz.org) or Pilot Club of Iowa City.

Published Nov. 18, 2012 in The Gazette