Captain William "Bill" Adams

Retired Merchant Marine Captain William H. “Bill” Adams, 63, died at his home on Sunday, February 22, 2004. A family memorial service was held in the Stonewall Memorial Cemetery in Lexington on Friday, February 27.

Capt. Adams was born in Charleston, W.Va. on September 27, 1940 to Col. And Mrs. Oscar H. Adams. A graduate of the Maine Maritime Academy in Castine, Maine, he served in the U.S. Merchant Marine as a ship’s officer for over 28, 16 of these as ship’s captain. When in the merchant service, he also served in the United States Navy Reserve, from which he retired as a commander.

After his retirement, he returned to Virginia in 2000 and established himself in Head Waters. He was a Master Mason of Lodge #13 in Staunton.

He is survived by his father; his brother, Robert Adams of Richmond; his sons, LTC William J. Adams of Blacksburg and Franklin Adams of Jacksonville, Fla.; his daughters Lydia Adams of Chicago, Ill. And Laura Woerner of Gaithersburg, Md.; and his two loving granddaughters, Analise and Amanda.