Lou Alice Hill Adams, 83, of Roanoke, died Tuesday, April 24, 2007 at the Roanoke United Methodist Home, surrounded by her loving family. Services will be held at Oakey's South Chapel on Friday, April 27, 2007 at 12 noon. Visitation will begin at 10 a.m., prior to the service. Interment will follow at Fairview Cemetery. Lou Alice was born on May 6, 1923 to Harold W. and Ethel C. (Dillon) Hill in Roanoke. While in high school, Lou Alice enjoyed being a drum majorette and was elected the "Dogwood Festival Queen." She was a graduate of William Fleming High School and Mary Washington College. She went on to teach English at Fleming High School prior to her marriage in 1948 to Archie C. Adams of Glen Rock, N.J. After moving to Glen Rock in the mid-1950's, Lou Alice and Archie retired to her family home in Roanoke in 1982 and built a retirement home in Bedford shortly thereafter. In 2002, Lou Alice and Archie moved into the Roanoke United Methodist Home. Lou Alice delighted in presiding over family events involving her three children, their spouses, and her grandchildren. One of her favorite activities was arranging family reunions at the beach, first at the family's home on Long Beach Island, N.J. and later along the Carolina coast. Lou Alice was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis at age 39 and fought a lifelong battle over a disease which robbed her of her physical abilities, but never touched her valiant spirit. She possessed remarkable inner strength, fire and faith that sustained her throughout her life. She was loved. Mrs. Adams was preceded in death by her parents, Harold W. and Ethel C. Hill; her husband, Archie, in 2003; and her son, Stuart H. Adams in 2005. She is survived by her son, John H. Adams and wife Jennifer Adams of Roanoke; and her daughter, Alice Sue Becker and husband Dr. Mark Becker of St. Cloud, Minn. She is survived by ten grandchildren, Melissa Adams Myers (Jeff), Matthew Adams, Kathryn Adams, Joshua Becker, Gabriel Becker-Finn (Jamie), Jeremiah Becker, LTJG. Ryan Adams, U.S.C.G., Scott Adams, Drew Adams and Mark Adams; as well as her sister-in-law, Barbara J. Owen, (William); two nieces and a nephew. Memorials are preferred to the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, Blue Ridge Chapter and Good Samaritan Hospice, Inc. of Roanoke.
Published in the Roanoke Times from 4/25/2007 - 4/27/2007.