Wilburn Curtis Adams was the son of W. W. "Bill" and Myra Hutcheson Adams of Benton, Arkansas.
Wilburn graduated from Benton High School in 1943, was in the Army Air Force from 1943-1944, and married Jean Alley on April 4, 1946.
After graduating from U of A in 1949, Wilburn began his career as an Vocational-Agriculture teacher in Grapevine, Arkansas 1949-1951. Moving back to Benton in 1951, he began working as a supervisor for Alcoa Aluminum until 1961.
In 1961-1965 he was self-employed as owner of Adams Feed Store in Benton, then renewed his teaching career at Arkansas School for the Deaf in Little Rock. As a result of this job he became interested in furthering his education and then graduated from UCA with a Masters degree in Special Education in 1968.
The Adams family moved to Conway, Arkansas in 1968 where he worked at the Human Development Center until 1973. During this time he founded the Pickles Gap Creek Craft Village on Hwy 65, two miles north of Conway. They were wholesale manufacturers of a variety of wooden folk toys, buckets, and churns. In addition they operated a large retail shop complete with a water wheel and grist mill. He was famous in Arkansas as the maker of the "Do-Nothing" which was a wooden toy which sold for $1.00 and did absolutely nothing...and he sold close to a quarter of a million of them in his lifetime.
After Jean's death, Wilburn married Jeanne Garvin Nichols in 1977. They continued to run Pickes Gap until the mid 1980's. Upon retiring, they moved to the Canton, Texas area. Not being happy in retirement, they began growing flowers, making Potpourri, dabbling in wood products again, and selling their products at First Monday Trade Days in Canton Texas for the last 20 years of his life.
Survivors, at the time of his death were wife Jeanne Adams of Canton, Texas; daughter Lou Jane Wills of Wooster, Arkansas; son Jack Adams of Conway, Arkansas; step-sons Dan Nichols of Bigelow, Arkansas, and David Nichols of Seattle, Washington; grandsons Robbie Wills, Eli Adams, and Isaac Adams, all of Conway; granddaughters Susan Wills Robinson of Little Rock, Toren Adams and Ariel Adams of Conway; and brother Don Gary Adams of Little Rock. He was preceded in death by a baby son, born on November 4, 1950, and his first wife, Jean Alley Adams in 1976.
His memorial service was held at Ashby's Funeral Home, in Benton officiated by grandson Robbie Wills. After a short eulogy, family and friends were invited to speak, then for over an hour we enjoyed hearing their stories. Burial of his ashes was in Old Rosemont Cemetery in Benton. Wilburn told his son-in-law to put his ashes in the box that his nephew Gary Joe Adams had made him as a Christmas present in 1981 and use a pair of "post hole diggers" to dig the grave. Following his wishes, each person took turns digging the hole using a brand new pair of post hole diggers, then we placed the box in the ground, taking turns placing the dirt back into the grave. The photo attached is of his son Jack and grandson Isaac at the gravesite.
Donations in his memory were made to the American Cancer Society.
Since his death, four great-grandchildren have been born, children of Robbie are Rylee and Alley Reece Wills; children of Susan are Sam and Kate Robinson.
Wilburn graduated from Benton High School in 1943, was in the Army Air Force from 1943-1944, and married Jean Alley on April 4, 1946.
After graduating from U of A in 1949, Wilburn began his career as an Vocational-Agriculture teacher in Grapevine, Arkansas 1949-1951. Moving back to Benton in 1951, he began working as a supervisor for Alcoa Aluminum until 1961.
In 1961-1965 he was self-employed as owner of Adams Feed Store in Benton, then renewed his teaching career at Arkansas School for the Deaf in Little Rock. As a result of this job he became interested in furthering his education and then graduated from UCA with a Masters degree in Special Education in 1968.
The Adams family moved to Conway, Arkansas in 1968 where he worked at the Human Development Center until 1973. During this time he founded the Pickles Gap Creek Craft Village on Hwy 65, two miles north of Conway. They were wholesale manufacturers of a variety of wooden folk toys, buckets, and churns. In addition they operated a large retail shop complete with a water wheel and grist mill. He was famous in Arkansas as the maker of the "Do-Nothing" which was a wooden toy which sold for $1.00 and did absolutely nothing...and he sold close to a quarter of a million of them in his lifetime.
After Jean's death, Wilburn married Jeanne Garvin Nichols in 1977. They continued to run Pickes Gap until the mid 1980's. Upon retiring, they moved to the Canton, Texas area. Not being happy in retirement, they began growing flowers, making Potpourri, dabbling in wood products again, and selling their products at First Monday Trade Days in Canton Texas for the last 20 years of his life.
Survivors, at the time of his death were wife Jeanne Adams of Canton, Texas; daughter Lou Jane Wills of Wooster, Arkansas; son Jack Adams of Conway, Arkansas; step-sons Dan Nichols of Bigelow, Arkansas, and David Nichols of Seattle, Washington; grandsons Robbie Wills, Eli Adams, and Isaac Adams, all of Conway; granddaughters Susan Wills Robinson of Little Rock, Toren Adams and Ariel Adams of Conway; and brother Don Gary Adams of Little Rock. He was preceded in death by a baby son, born on November 4, 1950, and his first wife, Jean Alley Adams in 1976.
His memorial service was held at Ashby's Funeral Home, in Benton officiated by grandson Robbie Wills. After a short eulogy, family and friends were invited to speak, then for over an hour we enjoyed hearing their stories. Burial of his ashes was in Old Rosemont Cemetery in Benton. Wilburn told his son-in-law to put his ashes in the box that his nephew Gary Joe Adams had made him as a Christmas present in 1981 and use a pair of "post hole diggers" to dig the grave. Following his wishes, each person took turns digging the hole using a brand new pair of post hole diggers, then we placed the box in the ground, taking turns placing the dirt back into the grave. The photo attached is of his son Jack and grandson Isaac at the gravesite.
Donations in his memory were made to the American Cancer Society.
Since his death, four great-grandchildren have been born, children of Robbie are Rylee and Alley Reece Wills; children of Susan are Sam and Kate Robinson.
Wilburn Curtis Adams was the son of W. W. "Bill" and Myra Hutcheson Adams of Benton, Arkansas.
Wilburn graduated from Benton High School in 1943, was in the Army Air Force from 1943-1944, and married Jean Alley on April 4, 1946.
After graduating from U of A in 1949, Wilburn began his career as an Vocational-Agriculture teacher in Grapevine, Arkansas 1949-1951. Moving back to Benton in 1951, he began working as a supervisor for Alcoa Aluminum until 1961.
In 1961-1965 he was self-employed as owner of Adams Feed Store in Benton, then renewed his teaching career at Arkansas School for the Deaf in Little Rock. As a result of this job he became interested in furthering his education and then graduated from UCA with a Masters degree in Special Education in 1968.
The Adams family moved to Conway, Arkansas in 1968 where he worked at the Human Development Center until 1973. During this time he founded the Pickles Gap Creek Craft Village on Hwy 65, two miles north of Conway. They were wholesale manufacturers of a variety of wooden folk toys, buckets, and churns. In addition they operated a large retail shop complete with a water wheel and grist mill. He was famous in Arkansas as the maker of the "Do-Nothing" which was a wooden toy which sold for $1.00 and did absolutely nothing...and he sold close to a quarter of a million of them in his lifetime.
After Jean's death, Wilburn married Jeanne Garvin Nichols in 1977. They continued to run Pickes Gap until the mid 1980's. Upon retiring, they moved to the Canton, Texas area. Not being happy in retirement, they began growing flowers, making Potpourri, dabbling in wood products again, and selling their products at First Monday Trade Days in Canton Texas for the last 20 years of his life.
Survivors, at the time of his death were wife Jeanne Adams of Canton, Texas; daughter Lou Jane Wills of Wooster, Arkansas; son Jack Adams of Conway, Arkansas; step-sons Dan Nichols of Bigelow, Arkansas, and David Nichols of Seattle, Washington; grandsons Robbie Wills, Eli Adams, and Isaac Adams, all of Conway; granddaughters Susan Wills Robinson of Little Rock, Toren Adams and Ariel Adams of Conway; and brother Don Gary Adams of Little Rock. He was preceded in death by a baby son, born on November 4, 1950, and his first wife, Jean Alley Adams in 1976.
His memorial service was held at Ashby's Funeral Home, in Benton officiated by grandson Robbie Wills. After a short eulogy, family and friends were invited to speak, then for over an hour we enjoyed hearing their stories. Burial of his ashes was in Old Rosemont Cemetery in Benton. Wilburn told his son-in-law to put his ashes in the box that his nephew Gary Joe Adams had made him as a Christmas present in 1981 and use a pair of "post hole diggers" to dig the grave. Following his wishes, each person took turns digging the hole using a brand new pair of post hole diggers, then we placed the box in the ground, taking turns placing the dirt back into the grave. The photo attached is of his son Jack and grandson Isaac at the gravesite.
Donations in his memory were made to the American Cancer Society.
Since his death, four great-grandchildren have been born, children of Robbie are Rylee and Alley Reece Wills; children of Susan are Sam and Kate Robinson.
Wilburn graduated from Benton High School in 1943, was in the Army Air Force from 1943-1944, and married Jean Alley on April 4, 1946.
After graduating from U of A in 1949, Wilburn began his career as an Vocational-Agriculture teacher in Grapevine, Arkansas 1949-1951. Moving back to Benton in 1951, he began working as a supervisor for Alcoa Aluminum until 1961.
In 1961-1965 he was self-employed as owner of Adams Feed Store in Benton, then renewed his teaching career at Arkansas School for the Deaf in Little Rock. As a result of this job he became interested in furthering his education and then graduated from UCA with a Masters degree in Special Education in 1968.
The Adams family moved to Conway, Arkansas in 1968 where he worked at the Human Development Center until 1973. During this time he founded the Pickles Gap Creek Craft Village on Hwy 65, two miles north of Conway. They were wholesale manufacturers of a variety of wooden folk toys, buckets, and churns. In addition they operated a large retail shop complete with a water wheel and grist mill. He was famous in Arkansas as the maker of the "Do-Nothing" which was a wooden toy which sold for $1.00 and did absolutely nothing...and he sold close to a quarter of a million of them in his lifetime.
After Jean's death, Wilburn married Jeanne Garvin Nichols in 1977. They continued to run Pickes Gap until the mid 1980's. Upon retiring, they moved to the Canton, Texas area. Not being happy in retirement, they began growing flowers, making Potpourri, dabbling in wood products again, and selling their products at First Monday Trade Days in Canton Texas for the last 20 years of his life.
Survivors, at the time of his death were wife Jeanne Adams of Canton, Texas; daughter Lou Jane Wills of Wooster, Arkansas; son Jack Adams of Conway, Arkansas; step-sons Dan Nichols of Bigelow, Arkansas, and David Nichols of Seattle, Washington; grandsons Robbie Wills, Eli Adams, and Isaac Adams, all of Conway; granddaughters Susan Wills Robinson of Little Rock, Toren Adams and Ariel Adams of Conway; and brother Don Gary Adams of Little Rock. He was preceded in death by a baby son, born on November 4, 1950, and his first wife, Jean Alley Adams in 1976.
His memorial service was held at Ashby's Funeral Home, in Benton officiated by grandson Robbie Wills. After a short eulogy, family and friends were invited to speak, then for over an hour we enjoyed hearing their stories. Burial of his ashes was in Old Rosemont Cemetery in Benton. Wilburn told his son-in-law to put his ashes in the box that his nephew Gary Joe Adams had made him as a Christmas present in 1981 and use a pair of "post hole diggers" to dig the grave. Following his wishes, each person took turns digging the hole using a brand new pair of post hole diggers, then we placed the box in the ground, taking turns placing the dirt back into the grave. The photo attached is of his son Jack and grandson Isaac at the gravesite.
Donations in his memory were made to the American Cancer Society.
Since his death, four great-grandchildren have been born, children of Robbie are Rylee and Alley Reece Wills; children of Susan are Sam and Kate Robinson.
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