Adie, as he was known, was a native of California, born in Oakland. As with many of his age, he entered the United Sates Navy in 1941, having graduated from the University of California in 1940 with a degree in engineering.

He served aboard the Oklahoma, where he was during the bombing of Pearl Harbor, which he survived, having directed several others through a porthole to escape, as he also did. He remained in the Naval reserve for twenty nine years and attained the rank of Commander. He was a member of the Pearl Harbor Survivors Chapter 2. After Pearl Harbor, he served as staff officer, including serving under Admiral Halsey. He was mustered out of the Navy in 1946.

After a brief business career in Santa Barbara, he and Betty returned to Oakland, and for twenty seven years Adie taught wood shop and technical drawing at Oakland High School.

He and Betty were members of Park Boulevard Presbyterian Church for fifty years. Adie was also active in Boy Scouts as an Eagle Scout, Sea Scout, and Scout leader. His hobbies included fishing, sailing, wood working, lapidary work, travel with his family, and a summer cabin at Silver Lake in Lassen County.

He is survived by his wife, Elizabeth (Betty), Carl Mortensen, daughter Susan Landreth of Salinas, California, and granddaughters, Emily Landreth Milias of Los Angeles, Abigail Landreth of Mill Valley, Kirsten Mortensen of Berkeley, and Amber Mortensen of San Diego.