William Daniel Adams Jr.

William Daniel Adams, Jr. (Bill)

January 25, 1924 -September 1, 2014

William Daniel Adams, Jr. (Bill) was the first of three children born to the union of William Daniel Adams, Sr. and Helen Hortense Carroll on January 25, 1924. He was born in St. Joseph, Missouri and raised in Springfield, Missouri by his aunt “Mama Rose” along with his younger brothers, Charles Earl Adams and Robert Carroll Adams. They were the grandsons of Lee and Daisy Adams.

Bill attended an “all Black” school in Old/New Lincoln, Springfield, Missouri from 1930-1942. In 1943, he moved back to St. Joseph, Missouri and was drafted into the Army. He served in the Army from 1943 – 1946. After his initial enlistment, Bill reenlisted into the Army from 1946-1965. After serving his country, Bill retired from the Army and was honorably discharged at the rank of Sergeant (E5).

Bill met and married Christine Elizabeth Dodd on October 19, 1947 in Springfield, Missouri and from that union they were blessed with many beautiful children: Carline, Danny, Keithie, Donald, Rickey and Tanya. After an arduous marriage, Bill and Christine’s divorce was finalized in 1967 and in 1968, Christine added a beautiful baby girl, Mitzy, to complete her family.

In March of 1966, Bill was hired at The Smithsonian Institution in Washington, DC and had a long successful career as a Special Police for the Smithsonian. He moved up the rankings to Lieutenant where he retired with over 39 years of service in March of 2005.

Bill met and married Hedwig Emilie Boehme on December 30, 1968. They remained married and lived in Waldorf, Maryland until her passing on December 11, 1987.

Bill loved jazz music and was a jazz musician. He played in an Army band among many other bands and was a member of the Musicians’ Union. Some of his hobbies included: gardening in his yard; playing and listening to jazz music; enjoying crafts and reading in his spare time. For the last three years, he enjoyed spending time with “Charley” his beloved dog and companion.

Bill leaves to celebrate his legacy and 90 years of life: Carline (Adams) Ford (John) of Warrensville Hts, OH, Danny Adams (Shirley (deceased)) of Springfield, MO, Keithie Adams (Paula) of Springfield, MO, Donald Adams (deceased), Rickey Adams of Painesville, OH, Tanya (Adams) Cameron (Bruce) of Orlando, FL, and Mitzy Adams-Doomes of Springfield, MO, and a multitude of beautiful grandchildren, great grandchildren, and great-great grandchildren, and an abundance of beloved family members, lots of co-workers, countless loved ones, neighbors and friends.

Preceding Bill in death were his grandparents Lee and Daisy Adams; parents William and Helen Adams; brother Charles Adams, ex-wife Christine Dodd; wife Hedwig Boehme; son Donald Adams and daughter-in-law Shirley Adams.