Dr. Walter Church Adams Jr.

Dr. Walter Church Adams Jr. died peacefully at his home in Wallingford, Pennsylvania, on the 20th of November, 2025, after an 8-year struggle with multiple myeloma. He was surrounded by his loving family and friends. Walt is survived by his wife of 63 years, Nancy Adams, his two sons, Christopher Adams and Kenneth Adams, his daughter-in-law, Heather Daniel and his grand-children, Ophelia Adams and Maxwell Adams. In addition, he is survived by his niece, Kathryn Barry and her husband, James Barry, both of whom were like children to Walt and Nancy. He is also survived by his nieces, Julie Wolff and Barbara Zaveski and his nephews, Steven and Gerald Adams, along with other extended family. He is pre-deceased by his parents, Walter Adams Sr. and Hazel Adams, as well as his siblings, Claire Chambrun, John Adams and Thomas Adams and his half-brother, Sherid Adams.

Dr. Adams served many roles over his 35 years of service to Kent State University in Kent, Ohio, including Professor of Biology, Associate Dean of the Graduate College and, eventually, Vice Provost, prior to his retirement in 2001. Walt found many outlets for his administrative skills, innate wisdom and subtle wit. Most satisfying of these was serving as a founding chair of the Kent Environmental Council and a two-term member of the Kent City Council, including one year as Mayor of Kent. Since that time, Walt had always valued citizen organizations formed to promote improvements in local government. Retirement brought a move to the Philadelphia area to be closer to his sons and grandchildren. There he enjoyed socializing with the members of GPS (the Grand Parents Society), gardening, reading, puzzling, and pottery. Altogether, a life well lived.

A memorial service will be held on the 6th of December, 2025, at 11:00 AM in the Memorial Garden at Trinity Episcopal Church in Swarthmore, PA.

The family asks that, in lieu of flowers, donations be made to the Kent Environmental Council or to the thrift shop of Trinity Episcopal Church.

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