Thomas Wade Adams

ADAMS, Thomas Wade, born April 12, 1937, died at his home in Annandale, Va., on Saturday, October 23, 2010 following a long and courageous struggle against prostate cancer. He was preceded in death by his wife, Susan Early Adams on October 17, 2009. He was predeceased by his parents, Floyd Edward Adams and Margaret Wade Adams. Wade attended Thomas Jefferson High School in Richmond and graduated from the University of Virginia in 1959. He was a member of the Sigma Phi Epsilon Fraternity. After attending law school at the University of Richmond, he served in the Army with the 82nd Airborne Division at Fort Bragg, N.C. His 37 years of government service included the Department of Labor, The Aeronautical and Space Administration, and the Department of Defense. Wade is survived by his brother, Floyd Edward Adams Jr. and his wife, Mary Eakie Adams of Goochland County; his nephew, Steven Edward Adams and his wife, Jeannie Aylor Adams, of Henrico County; his niece, Susan Adams Pollard and her husband, John Spotswood Pollard, of Goochland County; his sister-in-law, Janice Early Laufer, her husband, Emanuel E. Laufer; and his niece, Susan Ross, all of Halifax, Nova Scotia. Wade is also survived by his nephew, Jeffrey Laufer of Vancouver, British Columbia; and numerous grandnieces and nephews. Wade was devoted to his wife, Susan Early, The University of Virginia and his pet dogs, Scout and April. A funeral service will be held at Demaine Funeral Chapel, Springfield, on Wednesday, October 27, 2010, at 2 p.m. Graveside service will be held at Forest Lawn Cemetery in Richmond, Va., Thursday, October 28, at 11 a.m. In lieu of flowers, friends may make contributions to any animal welfare charity of their choice. Arrangements entrusted to Demaine Funeral Home, 5308 Backlick Rd., Springfield, Va., 703-549-0074, demainefunerals.com.


This obituary was originally published in the Richmond Times-Dispatch.