Donald Elwood Adams

Donald Elwood Adams passed away peacefully on March 10, 2024 in Rockville, MD. at the age of 96. He was the loving father to children Jeffrey Adams, Scott Adams, and Lynn Elahi; grandfather to Jordan, Jessica, Elizabeth, and Anatasia; great grandfather to Laurence, Lunamarie, Helena, and Illios; brother to Clarence Adams, Jr. and Kenneth; and friend and companion to Joyce Yee. He is preceded in death by his loving wife of 50 years, Pardee (1998), and parents Clarence Adams, Sr. (1973) and Gladys Adams (1983).

Donald was born in a coal mining “patch town” near Uniontown, Pennsylvania two years before the Great Depression. He served during WWII in the Army Air Corp, afterward serving in the Air Force Reserves and Army National Guard. He married Pardee in 1948 in Cumberland, MD and relocated to D.C. area in 1950. The couple settled in Rockville in 1955 where they raised their family and where he lived in the same house since 1960. He was very independent, still driving and managing a household until his passing. He was a founding member of St. Andrews Presbyterian Church, now Rockville United Church, and active in the church for much of his life.

He held several jobs before joining the Washington Gas Light Company in 1952, retiring there in 1985 after 33 yrs. of dedicated service. Donald was a warm and kind devoted father, husband, friend, neighbor, and churchgoer whose joy centered around his children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. He was an avid DIY’r, wood worker, enjoyed traveling, and collecting commemorative coins and penknives. He was a great role model who knew the value of a dollar, and more importantly, people.

A memorial service will be held on March 30th, 2024 at 11 AM with a reception to follow at Rockville United Church, 355 Linthicum St., Rockville, MD 20851, (301) 424-6733. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to "RUC" (noted for Grow the Circle Wide Capital Campaign), either at www.rockvilleunitedchurch.org or via mail.