David C. Adams

David Charles Adams, age 61, died peacefully, surrounded by loved ones on Friday, July 12, 2024, at Atrium Comprehensive Cancer Center in Winston-Salem, North Carolina after 3+ years of dealing with oral cancer and its numerous complications. A faithful Catholic, he died within hours of receiving the Sacrament of Anointing of the Sick from his parish vicar.

David was born on November 15, 1962, at Baptist Hospital [now Atrium], the second of three children to Bobbie Lee and Sara G. Adams. He attended school in Forsyth County and was a 1981 graduate of West Forsyth High School. During high school, he achieved the rank of Eagle Scout in the Boy Scouts of America and pursued many Junior ROTC activities. He attended The Citadel, The Military College of South Carolina, and graduated with a degree in Political Science in 1985. He was a proud member of Romeo Company and loved his alma mater and his Citadel brothers. Immediately following his college graduation, he joined the U.S. Army as an Infantry Lieutenant on active duty. His Army career took him from Fort Benning [now Fort Moore], Georgia, to Korea [2nd ID], back to Georgia and finally North Carolina with his final assignment in the 82d Airborne Division at Fort Bragg [now Fort Liberty]. He was a Jumpmaster and Pathfinder, a TAC officer for the Army Officer Candidate School and the last of the Legionnaires’ XO [31st Infantry Regiment, Korea].

While at Fort Benning, he met his wife, Ruth Anne [nee: Gero] Adams on a blind date. They were married on October 20, 1990. Dave left the Army in 1992 and pursued a career in sales and personnel management. In 1999, he co-founded a personnel staffing company and remained its Chief Operating Officer for over 20 years. Dave was a man of his word, and he was a faithful and loyal employee and businessman. He was self-possessed and honest and had a quiet style of leadership. People could trust his wisdom and rely on his discretion.

David and Ruth Anne Adams were married for 33 years and happily welcomed three children, Robert Ezekiel [Zeke] in 2002, and twin daughters Sara Anne [Annie] and Mary Jo in 2003. Family life was the center of Dave’s universe. Dave was a very kind father who always disciplined with love. He was a scout leader for his son Zeke. One of his proudest dad days was when his son joined the ranks of Eagle Scout. He loved to take his daughters to the annual Daddy/Daughter dances at Church and he took all the kids to their Taekwondo lessons. He served as principal to the family’s homeschool, St. Joseph Academy, which lasted until the girls finished 8th grade. He was a great gift giver, but the best gift he gave his children was that he was a devoted and loving husband to their mother, a good provider and a spiritual leader of the family.

Dave’s youth was spent at Shiloh Lutheran Church in Lewisville, NC. In March 2008, Dave crossed the Tiber and joined the Catholic Church. His entire Catholic life was spent as a parishioner of Holy Family Catholic Church in Clemmons, NC. He served on the parish council, the stewardship committee and was very involved with the Knights of Columbus. In the Knights, Dave was recognized as the state Rookie of the Year in 2009 and went on to lead his Council as Grand Knight. He was also a Fourth Degree Knight who served the Assembly as Faithful Navigator. His brother knights helped him to become a Catholic man of faith and action.

Dave enjoyed going to gun and knife shows with friends. He collected many of both, choosing to invest in iron and lead rather than gold and silver. In his later years, he returned to playing pool which he had picked up during college. He was part of the Wednesday night league at Break Time Billiards and most recently celebrated a repeat victory with the Deconstruction team.

Dave’s final illness was grueling and arduous with many twists and turns and even miraculous interventions. He withstood three major reconstruction surgeries of his mandible, cheek and neck and many months of chemotherapy and immunotherapy. David was well-served by the entire staff at the Comprehensive Cancer Center, but most notably by his brilliant and gifted surgeon, Dr. Hafiz Patwa, and his indomitable oncologist, Dr. Mercedes Porosnicu, and a very special church friend, nurse oncologist, Liesl Amorusa, RN, among many other caregivers. His final nurses were his sister Terri Doster, RN and niece Sara Doster, RN who helped him to die in peace. Amid this difficult illness, Dave moved with placidity and resignation, taking all that was given with gratitude. He embraced this Cross and through it grew closer to Jesus Christ. He lived well and died a man at peace with God and his fellow man.

David was preceded in death by his parents, Sara and B.L. Adams, and his parents-in-law, Robert Breining Gero and Anne Schneider Gero. David is survived by his beloved wife of 33 years, Ruth Anne Adams, and their three children, all at home: Zeke, Annie and Mary Jo Adams, his siblings, Terri Adams Doster [Southport, NC] and Christopher Lee Adams [Lewisville, NC], his siblings-in-law, Eric Doster, Peggy Gero DaValt, Paul and Nicki Gero, Scott and Mary Gronholz, and nieces, nephews, grandnieces, many cousins, aunts, uncles and friends. He was loved by many and will be missed by all who knew this very good man.

A Mass of Christian burial will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday, July 17, 2024, at Holy Family Catholic Church in Clemmons, NC. Visitation will begin at 10:00 am., and burial will follow immediately at the Holy Family Cemetery. For those who wish to honor Dave’s memory you may consider donating to Holy Family Catholic Church or Tunnel to Towers or a charity of your preference. An even better gesture would be to get to know Jesus and the promises He gives to all who take on a life in Christ.