Bobbie Rucker Adams

Bobbie Rucker Adams September 6, 1940-December 17, 2024 Bobbie Rucker Adams, devoted mother, grandmother and sister, departed her family on December 17, 2024 in Houston and was reunited with her late husband of 48 years, Skip Adams. She was 84. She was survived by brothers Ron Rucker of Pasadena and Larry Rucker of Houston; sons Russell Todd Phillips of Houston and Troy Phillips of Willow Park, Texas and stepson, Robert Adams of Phoenix, Arizona; granddaughters Elizabeth Abigail Phillips of Spring and Zoe Phillips of Wichita, Kan.; grandsons Christopher Levy Adams of Panama City, Fla., and Justin Adams of Phoenix. Other survivors include sister-in-law Cindy Rucker of Pasadena, daughter-in-law Karen Phillips of Houston, grandson by marriage Aaron Wilson of Spring, former daughter-in-law Mary Jane Self Phillips; great granddaughters Anna Wilson, Lily Adams, Avery Adams, and Kaia Adams; great grandsons Declan Adams, Christopher Maxwell Adams, Kaden Adams, Benjamin Adams, and Liam Adams. She was preceded in death by husband Ralph “Skip” Adams, her parents Clyde and Catherine Rucker, and Skip’s sons James Lyman Adams and Richard Wood Adams. Also known as Mom, Sis, Meme, and Mema, Bobbie was a retired flight attendant for Continental Airlines. During an admired airline career, she received multiple service commendations and delivered a brand of passenger hospitality rarely experienced. She was truly the hostess with the mostest, charming the likes of professional athletes, actors, astronauts, and musicians – including future King of Pop Michael Jackson in his pre-Thriller years. Born September 6, 1940, in Corpus Christi, Bobbie was raised in Baytown and graduated from Robert E. Lee High School in 1959. She marched for the famed Lee Brigadiers, the all-ladies drum and bugle corps that uniquely endured in Texas until 2001. Bobbie had two sons with the late James Phillips and worked in credit card operations for First City Bank Houston. As single parents, Bobbie and Skip met in 1972 (he had three sons) and married on July 21, 1973. She first landed in the airline industry in the late-1970s at Texas International, eventually moving to the chief pilots’ office as an administrative assistant. As Continental eventually absorbed TI, Bobbie knew her knack for meticulous hosting and entertaining would translate to a like-no-other profession. She soared through Continental’s flight attendant academy. In no time, she knew the preflight script and routines backwards and forwards, as well as cabin features unique to every size aircraft. Bobbie quickly became a crew and passenger favorite. She eventually enjoyed a career and travels that took her to continents and countries she barely imagined back in Baytown. Airline work was physically taxing, leading to back issues and Bobbie’s eventual retirement from Continental. She and Skip traveled more, joined a couples square dance group, attended yearly alumni events at his beloved Dartmouth College, put two sons through college, cheered on the Aggies and Horned Frogs, and settled into grandparenthood (did they ever!). Bobbie even dabbled as an antiques vendor, and they were Abbey and Zoe’s de facto stage parents. As the Adams/Phillips/Rucker clan proliferated, Bobbie was the immovable force at its center, always constant, loving, and dedicated. Life was full of hacks. Chances are, Bobbie had a solution or life lesson you needed. For nearly 50 years, Bobbie was Skip’s partner in parenting, traveling, spoiling, celebrating, overcoming, laughing, loving, and sharing a jam-packed life. They danced to the 1972 Bobby Vinton song, “Every Day of My Life” and took painstaking care of each other. Thank you Mom, Sis, Meme, and Mema, for everything you were to all of us. We miss you, your selfless love for us, ways you made every occasion, guest and stranger feel special, your heart-melting smile, soft spoken grace, gentle-but-firm disposition, unquestionable loyalty, life wisdom, concern for others, teachable moments, and our family’s legacy. See you both again someday. The memorial service for Bobbie Adams is scheduled for Monday, January 6 at 2 p.m. St. Martin’s Episcopal Church 717 Sage Road, Houston, TX 77056 Her service will be live streamed at https://stmartinsepiscopal.org/funerals/ In lieu of flowers, the family asks that memorial donations be made to St. Martin’s Episcopal Church or to the Assist the Officer Foundation (www.assisttheofficer.com).

Bobbie Rucker Adams

September 6, 1940 - December 17, 2024