Carl W. Adams

Carl W. Adams, age 96 passed away peacefully at his home on June 19, 2025, surrounded by family and friends. He was born in Blue Ball on December 21, 1928. He often said, “I am a Blue Ball boy and will always be a Blue Ball boy.” He was the husband of the late Constance (Connie) Stone Adams, who went to heaven in 2021. They were happily married for 65 years. He was also preceded in death by his parents Charles (Charlie) Simmons Adams and Alice Weaver Adams and brother Clair (Smoke) W. Adams.

He is the father of A. Lisa Weaver of Mount Joy and C. Craig Adams of Blue Ball, grandfather of Peter C. Snyder, Nathan A. Snyder, and Emily A. (Snyder) Governanti wife of Michael A. Governanti, step-grandfather of Jody (Weaver) Martin wife of Paul Martin and Tammy (Weaver) Stauffer wife of John Paul (JP) Stauffer and step great-grandfather of Marley Stauffer, Reese Stauffer, Cassidy Martin and Kylee Martin.

He and his wife were active members in the Pilgrim Bible Church. Formerly he was a member and elder at St. John’s UCC. He and Connie participated in Bible studies including with The Christadelphians of Neffsville. He was a follower of Jesus Christ and his favorite Bible verse was John 13: 34-35, A new commandment I give unto you, that ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.

He told stories of many fond childhood memories. Many of these were on his grandparents’, Moses and Emma Weaver’s, farm in Weaverland. He helped his grandpa and Uncle Lester with plowing the fields with horses, training beagles, and beekeeping. As a boy he also helped the milk man deliver milk in his khaki uniform and cap. He also spoke of the times he would collect buckets of water from the Blue Ball Run for the elephants and other animals when the circus was in town, in exchange for a free ticket to see the show.

He was a volunteer firefighter for the Blue Ball Fire Company in his younger years.

After he graduated from New Holland High School in 1946, he worked for his father and Uncle Paul Weaver for New Holland Meat Market as a butcher and shop keeper until he was drafted by Uncle Sam to serve in the Korean War.

Carl served in the U.S. Army after basic training at Camp Polk, Louisiana where he was promoted to staff sergeant. He was a “leader of men”. He was in the 45th Division (Thunderbirds) Field Artillery 189th Battalion. He served overseas in Occupied Japan and then was deployed to fight in Korea. He was a Combat Veteran of the Korean War which lasted from 1950-1953. He was awarded the Presidential Unit Citation, Japanese Occupation Metal, Korean War Metal, Good Conduct Metal, Korean Presidential War Service Metal and two Bronze Battle Stars. His first duty was that of captain’s driver in Korea and then became squad leader and an ammunition specialist. He was honorably discharged November of 1952 and served in the U.S. Army Reserve until 1958. He learned that “war is not glorious” and “America is the best country in the world.”

He returned to New Holland Meat Market and took over two routes traveling to Leola and Honeybrook delivering meat and groceries with long 17-hour days. He butchered Grade A livestock from the Lancaster Stock Yards. Eventually, he became owner with his brother Clair and friend Marvin “Matz” Martin. Then, partnered with his niece’s husband David Horst until his retirement. In addition to the New Holland Meat Market Store they had market stands, most notably at Roots, Green Dragon and Bird-in-Hand Markets.

After retirement, he remained active, spending time with his family and friends and continuing to pursue his hobbies. He was an avid reader of historical books and how to books he stored in his backyard log cabin library. He loved learning about bees and was an apiarist and sold honey from his hives with his label “Honey Bunch Apiaries”. He loved attending sales and had collections, including antique tractors and clocks. He inherited his father’s woodworking tools to repair furniture and his clocks and made crafts to be sold at the church bazaar in his wood shop. Weekly he would wind his clocks thus, ticking and chiming could be heard throughout his home. The old farm tractors he collected and restored he used to plant a large garden. Several years he had a farm stand in which he sold his harvest. He also gave away what he reaped to neighbors and friends. Family and friends gathered to harvest the potatoes yearly. He and his wife preserved their harvest, and I recall Connie, his wife, canning red beets in white attire one year.

He said he was going to make his wife, Connie, a garden of Eden. He did this by planting many shade, fruit and nut trees on his property in addition to the garden. He learned how to prune and prevent insects from destroying his efforts.

He was an avid hunter and member of the Stine’s Hollow Beagle Club in Schuylkill County. He and his Uncle Lester, son, Craig and grandson Nathan pulled his camper to the Club during the deer and turkey hunting seasons. His favorite hunting spot was “Turkey Feathers”.

For many years family and friends gathered for the annual Apple Butter Making event in his backyard. The cider would be cooked in a huge copper kettle over a wood fire. The women would peel the apples while the men stirred the pot. Hit and miss engines could be heard puttering to saw wood and shuck corn. Attendees would bring a covered dish while his wife, Connie, cooked many delicacies. His cousin George Weaver and Uncle Lester Weaver would drive their antique cars to the event. It would be an all-day event until the apple butter reached the proper consistency and would be canned.

Special thanks to his caregiver, Beatrice Ndura who not only helped him with Activities of Daily Living but also uplifting him emotionally and spiritually over the last four years.

Special thanks to all his supportive friends, neighbors and congregation, but particularly John Carvel, who has been a family friend for many years, who visited and helped provide entertainment and physical support daily over the last month.

When visitors would leave his home he would say, “May the Lord bless you, may the Lord’s face shine upon you and may he keep you in his perfect peace. Amen.”

A Funeral Service will be held on Monday, June 23, at 2:30 P.M. at Pilgrim Bible Church, 5367 Paes Road, New Holland, PA with Pastor Norman Griess officiating. Interment with military honors in the Weaverland Mennonite Cemetery. A Viewing will be held at the church on Monday from 1:00 to 2:30 PM. In lieu of flowers, contributions in his memory may be made to Water Street Ministries or Pilgrim Bible Church. To send an online condolence to the family, visit www.GroffEckenroth.com Arrangements by the Groff High Funeral Home, New Holland, PA.