Bobbie Ruth House Adams of Richland Springs, passed away Tuesday, June 9, 2026. Bobbie was the daughter of Alexander Jefferson House and Mary Ellen Choate House.
She was born April 26, 1929, in the McMillin community north of San Saba County, Texas. The McMillin community was named for her great-grandfather, Texas Ranger, Captain N.D. McMillin.
Bobbie is descended from pioneers who settled America, Texas, and San Saba County. She is a direct descendant of Aaron Burleson who arrived in America from Wales in 1726. Aaron had a large family and all his children that survived the American Revolution went on to have large families as well. Many of his children and grandchildren were repeatedly drawn to the edge of the western frontier. One of his grandsons, James Burleson, never remained in one place for more than a decade.
In 1791, James married Elizabeth Shipman in eastern North Carolina, and they moved to the Blue Ridge Mountains and began their family, including a son, Edward and a daughter, Volley. In 1807, James and his family migrated to Tennessee. On May 1st, 1830, James’ son, Edward, arrived in Texas at Stephen F. Austin’s headquarters on the Brazos River. James later followed his son, arriving in Texas in 1831. However, his daughter Volley remained in Tennessee where she married and began her own family. One of her daughters, Elizabeth, married Jefferson Warren.
Jeff and Elizabeth’s 5th child was a daughter named Vollie Ann born in 1841 and named after her grandmother. By 1846, the Warren Family grew to 7 children. The year 1847 was a disastrous year for Jeff Warren on the farm. He and his wife Elizabeth began talking about “GOING TO TEXAS.” In early 1848 Jeff, Elizabeth Warren and their seven children headed to Texas. After traveling what seemed like years to the children, they crossed another river, and Jeff Warren said to his family “Welcome to Texas!” They continued traveling until they reached Travis County, Texas.
Seven years later, Jeff Warren became restless. Several of his gentleman friends encouraged him to ride up the Colorado River north of Travis County and investigate some land in the area where the San Saba and Colorado Rivers meet. He returned to his family excited with his discovery of what he called “a real paradise.” He had purchased a tract of land in northeastern San Saba County. After relocating his family there, he commented that this would “be my home until God calls me.” The year was 1855.
The Warren Family was very active in the community and got together with their neighbors for Sunday dinner including neighbor Captain N.D. McMillin. Jeff and Elizabeth’s daughter Vollie Ann and Captain McMillin grew fond of each other and they married July 26, 1864. Captain McMillin was 48 and Vollie Ann was 23. Captain McMillin and Vollie Ann had 9 children. Their daughter Sophie married Ed House in 1888 at the home of the bride’s parents, Captain and Mrs. N.D. McMillin and after Captain McMillin’s death Vollie lived with Sophie and Ed until her death. Bobbie’s father, Alexander Jefferson House, was the oldest child of Sophie and Ed House.
Bobbie grew up on the banks of the Colorado River in the McMillin Community north of San Saba. She was the youngest in her family and grew up close to many cousins. Bobbie had a wonderful childhood. They spent hours swimming in the Colorado River. She attended school in McMillin and later in San Saba.
When she was in high school, her father purchased the country store in the Hall Valley Community in western San Saba County. She was a Junior at Richland Springs High School when she met a young man, George Presley Adams, at a high school basketball game at the Coyote gym in Richland Springs. Press returned to Richland Springs from WWII in December,1945. He was smitten with this beautiful girl. He soon asked her to marry him and she said yes. They were married April 3, 1946. Her parents were thrilled because they had fallen in love with him also. They had a wonderful life together until his death on June 25th, 2017.
During their marriage they did EVERYTHING together. If Press was building fences at the farm, she was by his side helping him. If he was at a coin show, she was there. After their marriage, Press began a career with the United States Postal Service as a Rural Letter Carrier, and they were both very active in local, state, and nation Letter Carrier organizations. Press was the President of the Texas association. Bobbie put on her mink stole for many formal banquets and was by his side.
In 1971, Press and Bobbie bought their first bulldog. This fulfilled a dream of Press' since he was in the Marines. They became very successful breeders of English Bulldogs. Bobbie worked very hard hand raising puppies. They had 5 dogs that finished as AKC Champions and at one time owned the top male English Bulldog in the United States.
Press and Bobbie had two daughters, Georganna and Paula Sue. Bobbie was a wonderful mother. Whatever her daughters were doing, she was there also. She often served as room mother and as the PTA President. She helped with room parties, class picnics, and numerous class trips to places like the State Fair of Texas. She carried Georganna to twirling lessons in Brownwood and when Paula was running in a track meet, she was always there. Georganna had two daughters, Tina McMillan and Amanda Sonnenberg. Paula had two sons, Wade Shannon and Brad Shannon. Mema was a loving grandmother and her grandchildren loved being in her home. Her great-grandchildren, Levi, Lane and Presley spent many happy hours in her home as well.
After marrying Press, she became a member of his church, The First Christian Church, and it became her church. She was a very active member, always attending Sunday services, helping with Sunday School and Bible School, and driving youth members to the Christian Retreat at Lake Brownwood where sometimes she would spend the weekend with Georganna at CYF Rallies at the camp. Bobbie would help clean the church, water the flower beds, cooked fellowship meals and when needed was a member of the Board. For many years it was her responsibility to put flowers in the sanctuary on Sunday morning. The Richland Springs church was served by student ministers from Brite Divinity School at Texas Christian University. She very often was a substitute mother for the young ministers and their families who lived in Richland Springs. For many years Bobbie went to church early Sunday mornings to start the coffee and either light the heaters or turn on the air conditioners.
Bobbie and Press were big supporters of the Richland Springs Coyotes. They were active in the booster club and attended all sporting events. Bobbie also loved going to TCU Horned Frog games with Georganna, Otto and their family.
Bobbie was preceded in death by her husband, her parents, her-father-in-law and mother-in-law, W.G. “Pete” Adams and Katie Marie (Lane) Adams, brothers A.J. House Jr. and Joe Edd House, sisters, Dena McNutt and Sophie Riggs, grandson Wade Shannon, and great-grandson, Gideon Morris.
Bobbie is survived by her daughters, Georganna Sonnenberg and husband, Otto of Brownwood, Texas, and Paula Shannon and husband Troy of Richland Springs; Texas;grandchildren: Tina McMillan, Brad Shannon and wife Brandy and Amanda Sonnenberg; great-grandchildren: Adrienne Benson, Levi Shannon and wife Makennah, Lane Shannon, Presley Ruth Morris and Piper Shannon, great-great grandchildren Lennyx Shannon, Ledger Shannon, and Rawlin Shannon; as well as numerous nieces and nephews.
The family would like to express gratitude to the CARE Nursing Home in Early and The Solaris Hospice Organization for the care that each gave Bobbie for the last 6 years.
A visitation was held on Tuesday, June 16, 2026, from 1:00 – 2:00 p.m. prior to the funeral service at 2:00 p.m. at the First Christian Church in Richland Springs, Texas. Interment followed at the Richland Springs Cemetery in Richland Springs, Texas.
Memorials may be given to the First Christian Church of Richland Springs, PO Box 96, Richland Springs, Texas 76871 or The Richland Springs Cemetery Association, PO Box 294, Richland Springs, Texas 76871.