Robert F. Adams

Robert F. Adams, 79, of Norwich, died May 5, 2015. He was born in Zanesville, February 12, 1936, the son of the late Robert and Mabel (Durant) Adams. He graduated from Lash High School in 1954 (the last Lash graduating class) and Muskingum College with a degree in speech communication. Retiring in 1997 as vice president of development for the Toledo, Ohio Promedica Health Systems, he began his career as a writer for the Zanesville Signal and Times Recorder. He was then employed as publisher of a small chain of weekly newspapers in Northwest Ohio winning a number of awards in Ohio Newspaper Association competitions. In post-retirement, he served a short time as director of the Zanesville/Muskingum County Visitors Bureau and as executive director of the Zane State College Foundation. He was an avid sailor, enjoyed spending time on the ski slopes with his wife and family, travelling and, with the help of his wife, caring for their farm. In addition to his wife of 56 years, Norma Jean (Hall) Adams, he is survived by two children, Julie Ann (Mark) Keirle of Norwich and R. Gregory (Eileen) Adams of New Concord; granddaughters Chelsea Adams of Annapolis, Maryland, and Clare Adams of Arvada, Colorado; two sisters, Barbara White (special friend Bob Welsh) and Nancy (Bill) Black of Zanesville and several nieces and nephews. Following cremation, a memorial service will be observed May 16 at 2p.m. at St. James Episcopal Church on North 6th Street, Zanesville. A family private ceremony will be observed at Zanesville Memorial Park where a plaque will be placed at the family grave site. Memorial gifts may be made to St James Episcopal Church: 155 N 6th Street, Zanesville, Ohio 43701; or New Concord College Drive Presbyterian Church food pantry: 2 West High Street, New Concord, Ohio 43762.