Samuel Thompson Adams Jr. of Coot Hill, White Post, Virginia passed away, wife by his side, holding the hands of his beloved children Marian and Sam at The Blue Ridge Hospice Facility in Winchester, VA. Diagnosed with a very aggressive brain tumor in late April, his remaining months allowed him time to feel the immense love and gratitude of all who knew him.
He is survived by his devoted wife of 42 years, Anne Brady Adams, and his children; Samuel Thompson Adams III and Marian Alexander Adams, his brother Harbert Lee Rice Adams of Edinburg, VA, and his sister Celeste Adams Wheelwright of The Plains, VA.
He was especially close to his first cousins, John B. Adams Jr., Florence Adams Perrow, Catherine Adams, Greg Cummings, and Caroline Cummings Glenn; his Tennessee cousins, The Alexanders and Cowles; and the extended Adams clan of Wardell, VA. He cherished the relationships with his nieces and nephews as well.
Sam was born July 13, 1949 to the late Dr. Samuel Thompson Adams and Celeste Tarbet Adams of “White Hall” The Plains, VA. After graduation from Woodberry Forrest, he followed family tradition attending The Virginia Military Institute, graduating in 1971. Sam then enlisted with the Army in The Medical Service Corps. After service Sam attained a Masters in Immunology from The University of Mississippi, and finally a Masters in Engineering from George Washington University, which allowed him to pursue his lifelong passion.
Sam’s long career in Engineering with 3M included multiple International projects in Brazil, Italy, Germany, and Israel earning him the company’s most honorable award; The Circle of Technical Excellence. In 1996, 3M created a new division and Sam relocated to Middleway, WV, taking the lead as Plant Manager, and earning multiple environmental awards during his time there. Sam managed the plant through four mergers/acquisitions in ten years, and his primary concern was always to protect his team. Throughout his career Sam always considered his co-workers extended members of his own family, in return he had their admiration and respect.
Sam met Anne at Blue Ridge Hunt Point-to-Point, who at the time was a riding instructor at The Madeira School, and it was love at first sight. They were married on June 11, 1977. Sam’s greatest joy in life was his family and understood the meaning of unconditional love.
Sam’s hobbies included gardening, duck hunting, fly fishing, surf fishing, and photography. After retirement in 2006 he volunteered at The Virginia State Arboretum at Blandy Farm where he became a Virginia Master Naturalist. He loved history, science, genealogy, and his succession of little brown hunting spaniels, the ever present “Buckeye”-his companion to the end.
Sam was an authentic Virginia Gentleman, a man of substance, honor, and tradition. He was the real deal. The family motto best describes him-Loyal au Mort (Loyal unto Death)
Funeral Mass with a reception to follow will be held at 11:00am on Saturday August 3rd, 2019 at Grace Episcopal Church in The Plains, VA; with The Rev. Weston Mathews officiating. The church is located at 6507 Main St, The Plains, VA 20198.
In lieu of flowers; memorials may be made to Blue Ridge Hospice, 333 W. Cork St #405, Winchester, VA 22601 or to The State Arboretum of Virginia at Blandy Experimental Farm, 400 Blandy Farm Lane, Boyce VA 22620.