JOHN W. ADAMS

John W. Adams, a resident of White Plains for 22 years, died Thursday, July 1, 2004 at home in Green Valley, AZ, where he moved 8 months ago. He was 61. Born in Atlantic, Iowa, on January 30, 1943, at the age of 18, Mr. Adams began serving at the world headquarters of Jehovah's Witnesses in Brooklyn, NY, where he remained for 18 years. John loved the Bible, because through a study of it, he was able to draw ever closer to his Creator, and his delight was in sharing the Bible's promises of everlasting life and the time when God would restore the earth to a paradise again. While serving at Brooklyn, some of his assignments included secretary for the missionary college known as Gilead and overseeing a book bindery that produced 1 million books a week. These books included Bibles and Bible educational materials. In 1971, he married his wife, Shirley, and they continued to serve at the Brooklyn headquarters until 1979. After that, he served as an elder in the Christian congregation in Scarsdale, New York, for 22 years. John owned and managed an office-cleaning business in Westchester County for 20 years. He also served as chairman of the Hospital Liaison Committee that worked closely with doctors and their patients who were Jehovah's Witnesses, assisting with information to help in the non-blood management of such patients. In 2001, John was privileged to receive training that enabled him to work with translators in various countries in Western Europe. For two years John enjoyed that assignment and made many friends in the countries where he served. Upon returning to the States in August 2003, his planned to move to Green Valley, Arizona, to live closer to his wife's 87 year old father. In September 2003, John was diagnosed with ALS (Lou Gehrig's disease). In spite of his rapidly deteriorating condition, John remained as active as possible, giving Bible discourses in the local congregation in Green Valley and sharing the Bible's hope-inspiring message with others. John loved life and people and was a great joke and story teller. He will be truly missed by his many friends. John is survived by his wife, Shirley; his brothers: Dave and Jim; a sister, Sandy, and their families. Family members who died earlier were his mother and father. On Saturday, August 7 at 5 PM, a Memorial Service will be held at the Kingdom Hall of Jehovah's Witnesses, Route 22, Brewster, NY located shortly after 684 crosses 84 and merges into Route 22. Un lieu of flowers, donations may be made toward the proposed new Kingdom Hall of Jehovah's Witnesses to be built in Green Valley. Checks may be made out to Jehovah's Witnesses and sent in care of Mark Gibson, Secretary, 10515 S. Nogales Highway, Tucson, AZ 85706.