Willa Mae Adams was born March 3, 1926, in Enid, Okla. She was called home to be with the Lord on Saturday, Dec. 5, 2015.
She moved to Virginia with her parents in 1936 and lived in Springfield from 1938 until 1983. Willa Mae then moved to Chincoteague Island, where she lived for 15 years, until she moved to Partlow to be with her family.
Willa Mae is survived by her daughter, Patricia Riddle, of Partlow; her son, Paul L. Adams Jr., (Irene) of Caroline County; nine grandchildren; six great-grandchildren; numerous nieces and nephews; and a host of other family members and friends.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Paul L. Adams Sr.; and brother William “Billy” Fear Jr.
Willa Mae’s family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 10, at Found and Sons Funeral Chapels–Cremation Services, 10719 Courthouse Road. A funeral will be held at 11 a.m. Friday, Dec. 11, at Spotswood Baptist Church, 4009 Lafayette Blvd., with Pastor Jim Stone officiating. Burial will be at 11 a.m. Tuesday, Dec. 15, in Alexandria National Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, donations in her name may be made to the Spotsylvania Volunteer Rescue Squad, Box 101, Spotsylvania VA 22553.
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Written by her grandson Leonard F. Riddle Jr
We’re all born with 4 natural grandparents and if we’re fortunate, we get to see them live to a ripe old age before we have to say good-bye. My mom’s dad died when she was 16 so I never had an opportunity to meet him. My dad’s dad died when I was a little boy and I have a few foggy memories of him. My dad’s mom died a couple of years ago but since she lived a few states away, I didn’t get to see her a lot. But my mom’s mom, my Granny, Willa Mae Adams, just died today and she was an important part of my life.
If you know anything about flying you know what I mean when I say takeoff is a few brief moments of full-throttled, everything-you-got, adrenalin-packed terror to get to your cruising altitude. When you get to 30,000ft, you’re able to unbuckle your seatbelts, recline your seat, and enjoy the view. Finally, landing is sometimes turbulent but still a fairly controlled descent and slow-down to your final destination.
Well, Granny had a great take-off and landing but her 30,000ft ride was probably the best anyone could hope for. Like so many others her age, she lived through the depression and came out the other side with a sense of frugalness and an appreciation for life that many of us today take for granted. She met FDR when she was a child. She supported the American war effort as a mechanical draftsman for the War Department in the 40’s. She and her Navy vet husband built their own home in West Springfield, Virginia and raised their own little family in the midst of the larger family of all of her husband’s siblings. Her mom was kind of matriarchal to our family and when time took its toll on her, Granny seemed to step in and fill the void.
I was her first grandchild and while I know she loved my brother and sister and all of our cousins, occasionally I got the sense that I was a little extra special in her heart. Some of the memories our family will be sharing in the coming days will include Granny roller-skating in the kitchen, licking ice cream off of a friend’s arm, being a card shark at Poker, and so many other things.
We’ll also unavoidably talk about her landing. It was rough and understandably painful at times, but in the end, so many who loved her got a chance to say good-bye and unlike so many of the elderly living out their last days in assisted living facilities, she didn’t slip away alone. She had family with her all the way to the very end.
She moved to Virginia with her parents in 1936 and lived in Springfield from 1938 until 1983. Willa Mae then moved to Chincoteague Island, where she lived for 15 years, until she moved to Partlow to be with her family.
Willa Mae is survived by her daughter, Patricia Riddle, of Partlow; her son, Paul L. Adams Jr., (Irene) of Caroline County; nine grandchildren; six great-grandchildren; numerous nieces and nephews; and a host of other family members and friends.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Paul L. Adams Sr.; and brother William “Billy” Fear Jr.
Willa Mae’s family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 10, at Found and Sons Funeral Chapels–Cremation Services, 10719 Courthouse Road. A funeral will be held at 11 a.m. Friday, Dec. 11, at Spotswood Baptist Church, 4009 Lafayette Blvd., with Pastor Jim Stone officiating. Burial will be at 11 a.m. Tuesday, Dec. 15, in Alexandria National Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, donations in her name may be made to the Spotsylvania Volunteer Rescue Squad, Box 101, Spotsylvania VA 22553.
---------------------------------------------------
Written by her grandson Leonard F. Riddle Jr
We’re all born with 4 natural grandparents and if we’re fortunate, we get to see them live to a ripe old age before we have to say good-bye. My mom’s dad died when she was 16 so I never had an opportunity to meet him. My dad’s dad died when I was a little boy and I have a few foggy memories of him. My dad’s mom died a couple of years ago but since she lived a few states away, I didn’t get to see her a lot. But my mom’s mom, my Granny, Willa Mae Adams, just died today and she was an important part of my life.
If you know anything about flying you know what I mean when I say takeoff is a few brief moments of full-throttled, everything-you-got, adrenalin-packed terror to get to your cruising altitude. When you get to 30,000ft, you’re able to unbuckle your seatbelts, recline your seat, and enjoy the view. Finally, landing is sometimes turbulent but still a fairly controlled descent and slow-down to your final destination.
Well, Granny had a great take-off and landing but her 30,000ft ride was probably the best anyone could hope for. Like so many others her age, she lived through the depression and came out the other side with a sense of frugalness and an appreciation for life that many of us today take for granted. She met FDR when she was a child. She supported the American war effort as a mechanical draftsman for the War Department in the 40’s. She and her Navy vet husband built their own home in West Springfield, Virginia and raised their own little family in the midst of the larger family of all of her husband’s siblings. Her mom was kind of matriarchal to our family and when time took its toll on her, Granny seemed to step in and fill the void.
I was her first grandchild and while I know she loved my brother and sister and all of our cousins, occasionally I got the sense that I was a little extra special in her heart. Some of the memories our family will be sharing in the coming days will include Granny roller-skating in the kitchen, licking ice cream off of a friend’s arm, being a card shark at Poker, and so many other things.
We’ll also unavoidably talk about her landing. It was rough and understandably painful at times, but in the end, so many who loved her got a chance to say good-bye and unlike so many of the elderly living out their last days in assisted living facilities, she didn’t slip away alone. She had family with her all the way to the very end.
Willa Mae Adams was born March 3, 1926, in Enid, Okla. She was called home to be with the Lord on Saturday, Dec. 5, 2015.
She moved to Virginia with her parents in 1936 and lived in Springfield from 1938 until 1983. Willa Mae then moved to Chincoteague Island, where she lived for 15 years, until she moved to Partlow to be with her family.
Willa Mae is survived by her daughter, Patricia Riddle, of Partlow; her son, Paul L. Adams Jr., (Irene) of Caroline County; nine grandchildren; six great-grandchildren; numerous nieces and nephews; and a host of other family members and friends.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Paul L. Adams Sr.; and brother William “Billy” Fear Jr.
Willa Mae’s family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 10, at Found and Sons Funeral Chapels–Cremation Services, 10719 Courthouse Road. A funeral will be held at 11 a.m. Friday, Dec. 11, at Spotswood Baptist Church, 4009 Lafayette Blvd., with Pastor Jim Stone officiating. Burial will be at 11 a.m. Tuesday, Dec. 15, in Alexandria National Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, donations in her name may be made to the Spotsylvania Volunteer Rescue Squad, Box 101, Spotsylvania VA 22553.
---------------------------------------------------
Written by her grandson Leonard F. Riddle Jr
We’re all born with 4 natural grandparents and if we’re fortunate, we get to see them live to a ripe old age before we have to say good-bye. My mom’s dad died when she was 16 so I never had an opportunity to meet him. My dad’s dad died when I was a little boy and I have a few foggy memories of him. My dad’s mom died a couple of years ago but since she lived a few states away, I didn’t get to see her a lot. But my mom’s mom, my Granny, Willa Mae Adams, just died today and she was an important part of my life.
If you know anything about flying you know what I mean when I say takeoff is a few brief moments of full-throttled, everything-you-got, adrenalin-packed terror to get to your cruising altitude. When you get to 30,000ft, you’re able to unbuckle your seatbelts, recline your seat, and enjoy the view. Finally, landing is sometimes turbulent but still a fairly controlled descent and slow-down to your final destination.
Well, Granny had a great take-off and landing but her 30,000ft ride was probably the best anyone could hope for. Like so many others her age, she lived through the depression and came out the other side with a sense of frugalness and an appreciation for life that many of us today take for granted. She met FDR when she was a child. She supported the American war effort as a mechanical draftsman for the War Department in the 40’s. She and her Navy vet husband built their own home in West Springfield, Virginia and raised their own little family in the midst of the larger family of all of her husband’s siblings. Her mom was kind of matriarchal to our family and when time took its toll on her, Granny seemed to step in and fill the void.
I was her first grandchild and while I know she loved my brother and sister and all of our cousins, occasionally I got the sense that I was a little extra special in her heart. Some of the memories our family will be sharing in the coming days will include Granny roller-skating in the kitchen, licking ice cream off of a friend’s arm, being a card shark at Poker, and so many other things.
We’ll also unavoidably talk about her landing. It was rough and understandably painful at times, but in the end, so many who loved her got a chance to say good-bye and unlike so many of the elderly living out their last days in assisted living facilities, she didn’t slip away alone. She had family with her all the way to the very end.
She moved to Virginia with her parents in 1936 and lived in Springfield from 1938 until 1983. Willa Mae then moved to Chincoteague Island, where she lived for 15 years, until she moved to Partlow to be with her family.
Willa Mae is survived by her daughter, Patricia Riddle, of Partlow; her son, Paul L. Adams Jr., (Irene) of Caroline County; nine grandchildren; six great-grandchildren; numerous nieces and nephews; and a host of other family members and friends.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Paul L. Adams Sr.; and brother William “Billy” Fear Jr.
Willa Mae’s family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 10, at Found and Sons Funeral Chapels–Cremation Services, 10719 Courthouse Road. A funeral will be held at 11 a.m. Friday, Dec. 11, at Spotswood Baptist Church, 4009 Lafayette Blvd., with Pastor Jim Stone officiating. Burial will be at 11 a.m. Tuesday, Dec. 15, in Alexandria National Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, donations in her name may be made to the Spotsylvania Volunteer Rescue Squad, Box 101, Spotsylvania VA 22553.
---------------------------------------------------
Written by her grandson Leonard F. Riddle Jr
We’re all born with 4 natural grandparents and if we’re fortunate, we get to see them live to a ripe old age before we have to say good-bye. My mom’s dad died when she was 16 so I never had an opportunity to meet him. My dad’s dad died when I was a little boy and I have a few foggy memories of him. My dad’s mom died a couple of years ago but since she lived a few states away, I didn’t get to see her a lot. But my mom’s mom, my Granny, Willa Mae Adams, just died today and she was an important part of my life.
If you know anything about flying you know what I mean when I say takeoff is a few brief moments of full-throttled, everything-you-got, adrenalin-packed terror to get to your cruising altitude. When you get to 30,000ft, you’re able to unbuckle your seatbelts, recline your seat, and enjoy the view. Finally, landing is sometimes turbulent but still a fairly controlled descent and slow-down to your final destination.
Well, Granny had a great take-off and landing but her 30,000ft ride was probably the best anyone could hope for. Like so many others her age, she lived through the depression and came out the other side with a sense of frugalness and an appreciation for life that many of us today take for granted. She met FDR when she was a child. She supported the American war effort as a mechanical draftsman for the War Department in the 40’s. She and her Navy vet husband built their own home in West Springfield, Virginia and raised their own little family in the midst of the larger family of all of her husband’s siblings. Her mom was kind of matriarchal to our family and when time took its toll on her, Granny seemed to step in and fill the void.
I was her first grandchild and while I know she loved my brother and sister and all of our cousins, occasionally I got the sense that I was a little extra special in her heart. Some of the memories our family will be sharing in the coming days will include Granny roller-skating in the kitchen, licking ice cream off of a friend’s arm, being a card shark at Poker, and so many other things.
We’ll also unavoidably talk about her landing. It was rough and understandably painful at times, but in the end, so many who loved her got a chance to say good-bye and unlike so many of the elderly living out their last days in assisted living facilities, she didn’t slip away alone. She had family with her all the way to the very end.
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