Thomas J. Adams

Thomas J. Adams of Shannondale (Mayport) died of a heart attack on August 18, 2018, in his home, with his wife of 41 years by his side. He was 67 years old.

Born on January 28, 1951, in Pittsburgh, Tom was the son of the late Harry La Verne and Katherine Florann (Flowers) Adams. He grew up in Oakmont, PA with his older brother, Jim. Tom or “Jungle” to his classmates at Riverview High School, was a talented football player, recruited to play at the University of Louisville on a football scholarship. While at Louisville he played defense against such legends as “Mean Joe Green” among others.

Tom started work at People’s Natural Gas Company in 1975 at the Truittsburg Station. He met Christine (Delo) Adams in nearby Clarion, and they were married on July 23, 1977, in a small ceremony at Zion Lutheran Church in Shannondale. The couple purchased a home just down the hill from the church, and it was there that Tom began a lifetime of work rebuilding and expanding his home, doing the vast majority of the work himself.

Tom or “Griz” as he was known to his friends and neighbors, retired from Peoples / CNG / Dominion on February 1, 2005, after 30 years of service in well maintenance and as a station engineer. Throughout his career, he was an active union member. In his retirement, he was passionate about local and national politics, as an outspoken supporter of Bernie Sanders and a member of the Clarion Chapter of Indivisible. He was fiercely proud of his two daughters and loved his family above all else. He especially enjoyed spending time with his two grandchildren. He was exceedingly generous, quick to share his time, knowledge, and advanced skills in carpentry and woodworking to help his friends and neighbors. He enjoyed riding his motorcycle, playing pool in his man cave, and could be found most evenings on his ATV, with his signature beard and baseball cap, watching the sunset over Shannondale.

Tom is survived by his wife, Christine M. (Delo) Adams; his two daughters, Dr. Cathleen M. Adams (Dr. Joshua Blum), of Lewisburg, PA and Gloria A. Adams (Richard Rivera), of New York, NY; his two grandchildren, Willa Marie and Fletcher Oak Adams Blum; and his brother, H. James Adams (Sandy) of Gibsonia, PA. He was preceded in death by his parents.

Arrangements are under the care of Goble Funeral Home and Crematory in Clarion. A private burial service will be held on Saturday, August 25 at Zion Lutheran Church and a celebration of his life will be held at a later date.

Donations can be made in Tom’s name to the American Civil Liberties Union at www.aclu.org, Free Speech TV at www.FreeSpeech.org, or to the Democratic candidate of your choice.

Friends and family may send online condolences and obtain additional information by visiting www.goblefh.net.