Rich Adams

On December 28, 2014 Rich Adams lost his courageous battle with cancer, combined with other unforeseen health challenges. He was born on May 2nd, 1931 in South Bend,Indiana as Richard Lawrence Wrentmore, son of Lawrence and Jane Adams Wrentmore. At age 50, he chose to legally change his name to Rich Adams proclaiming he had carried his father’s name for 50 years and felt his mother deserved the same veneration.

Rich proudly served his country in the US Army, was a Tenor Soloist in the Army Band and received an Honorable Release from Active Duty. He attended Penn State University where he received a BS in Business and then University of Michigan, receiving Advance Credits in Music. He moved to Clemmons in 1981, and co-owned Val-Pak, with his wife, Dorothy McIntyre-Adams until her death in 2000 from cancer. In 2004, he married Marilyn Temples, owner of MT etc., also in Clemmons. They moved to Lake Norman where he attended a Captain's boating course and received his license. They spent the next 10 years sharing their passion for boating, traveling and fellowship with friends.

The first third of Rich’s life was spent as a classical tenor. He owned Arbor Oaks Realtors and Rich Adams and Associates in Michigan. He began writing advertising copy in his early thirties winning several national awards for advertising. He also published magazine articles and a weekly newspaper column. Rich was artistic and talented, he enjoyed making kaleidoscopes, walking sticks, etc. In 2010 Rich found his passion, picking up an old novel attempt he had begun in the 70’s. He spent a year revising it and nearly two years trying to get it published. In February 2013, Second Wind Publishing made it happen with “Fractured.” Two other novels followed, “Knife Lines” and “Killer Notebook” which were to be part of a trilogy; the Jerzey Swift, Detective series. He was attempting to bring closure to the third of the series just prior to his passing. In a 2012 interview, Rich was asked, “What one word describes how you feel when you write?” He simply replied “JOY.”

Survivors include his wife Marilyn Temples of Sherrills Ford, NC, a brother, Bill Wrentmore of Sun City, AZ, a daughter, Cindy Pheiffer (David) of Lago Vista, TX, two sons, Chris Wrentmore of Jackson, MI, and Bill Wrentmore (Paula) of Austin, TX, one grandchild, Jake, and his beloved Dachshund, Sunshine. He was proceeded in death by his parents, Lawrence Wrentmore and Jane Adams Wrentmore. Memorial arrangements to celebrate Rich’s life are pending and will be publicly announced upon completion. When talking about his death, Rich said once "if anyone asks how I want to be remembered, please say A person who loved beauty in ALL its form."

A celebration of life will be held 2 PM Saturday, January 24th at Frank Vogler & Sons of Clemmons, NC. Small live perennial plants, to be placed in a garden with his Urn, would be welcome.