William Christopher Adams

william adams
William Christopher Adams: lover of life; devoted husband; most caring father of all; holder of life’s happiness; grammar, syntax, and lexicon aficionado; music and nature lover; assiduous engineer; ruminative thinker; and inspiring friend and mentor. After a long battle with cancer, Chris passed away peacefully early Saturday morning, February 16, holding the hand of his wife of 33 years, Bettina Adams.

Chris was born in a cross-fire hurricane – oops that's a favorite song – he was born in the formerly known as Queen of Angels Hospital in Los Angeles, California to newlyweds James O. Adams and Ann Bartholomew Adams. Years later when many people were leaving the Midwest to live in California, he used to joke that he was the exception and left California at a young age. With his father’s career in the Air Force, Chris bore a rather peripatetic school career, attending 12 different schools by the time he graduated high school.

As a child, while living in Bossier City, LA, one of Chris’ favorite memories with his father was visiting Barksdale Air Force Base. The base was home to the first strategic jet bomber, the Boeing B-47. One Sunday, his dad took him to the flight line and gave a first-hand tour of the cockpit. To his dismay, he wasn't allowed to pull the 'Bomb Release' lever.

While living in Fort Wayne, he loved two things best: visiting Granny’s (or maybe it was just Granny’s chocolate pudding) and attending YMCA summer Camp Potawotami at Blackman Lake. Chris’ love for chocolate…err, family, was woven into his being for the rest of his life. From this time he began to cherish any time he could be outside hiking, horseback riding, sailing, jet-skiing, or simply reading a book by the lake or in the mountains.

Inquisitive and adroit Chris had the freedom to choose a career, though being ever practical, he deemed it most important to have a paying job that could provide. His early work with the Wright-Patterson Air Force Base shaped what would become a tremendously satisfying career as a civil servant. Chris found purpose and intellectual challenge in his work. Trained as an electrical engineer, with a master’s degree from Purdue, he devoted his career to satellite communications. Although it did not satisfy his dream of being a train conductor for a day, he was satiated by the impact of his work and colleagues whom he was honored to call friends.

Some of his favorite memories during his working life were while he was stationed in Berlin, when he met wife Bettina. He fondly remembered the train rides to and from Bettina’s home in Frankfurt and their skiing adventures with friends at Seiser Alm in the Dolomites. Chris and Bettina were married in Germany in 1985 and then moved to Northern Virginia, where they raised their children Patrick and Cindy.

Chris was a selfless family man, who always wanted the absolute best for his family. He encouraged Patrick and Cindy to seek out things that made them happy and pursue them. Whatever he could do to support their dreams, he would provide for it. Whether it was personal tutoring in grammar and physics or supplementing the cost of education, he was there. He also sought to upkeep a closeness with his brothers and their children, a family bond that could never be broken. Chris delighted in the accomplishments of all of his family.

Chris had a deep appreciation for music, both technical organ music (Bach, Bach, Bach, maybe some others, but Bach) and the Rolling Stones. Chris got to go to the 50th Anniversary tour of the Stones with Bettina and Patrick in New Jersey resulting in a tribute section in his home office. He also had a passion for board games, as well as a perspicacity and knack for winning.

Chris is survived by his wife of 33 years, Bettina Adams, and their son Patrick and daughter Cindy Adams. He is also survived by brothers Mark (Lynn) and Todd (Blisse), brother-in-law Juergen (Christa), and his nieces and nephews Kelsey (Casey), Chris (Angelica, daughter Sam), Elizabeth (Doug), Julia, Meike, and Eva. We will all carry our many cherished memories with us.

Family and friends are invited to a Memorial Service at Emmanuel Lutheran Church, 2589 Chain Bridge Rd, Vienna, VA 22181, Sunday, February, 24 at 2pm. Reception will follow. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations are made in his name to the Organ Maintenance Fund at Emmanuel Lutheran. Checks can be made out to ‘Emmanuel Lutheran Church’ with "Organ Maintenance" in the memo line and sent to the church.

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  1. My coworker, mentor, and dear friend, Chris enriched my life in many memorable ways. Chris embodied kindness and integrity and taught me through word and example what it means to be patient, professional, brave in adversity, and in constant pursuit of knowledge and excellence. A truly good man- devoted to his family, friends, and meaningful work. I will miss our talks and walks (and the dark chocolate!) and look forward to the time we meet again in heaven. Until then, my friend.

  2. I’m sorry for your loss. While words fail to capture the pain of losing a loved one, we look forward to the time when words will fail to capture the joy of seeing them again. John 5:28,29.

  3. Bettina, Cindy and Patrick,
    We are so sorry for the loss of your husband and father. We hope you take comfort in your memories and know that you will eventually see each other again.
    Thinking of you and wishing you peace.
    fondly,
    Sally and Jim

  4. Bettina, Cindy, and Patrick: Linda and I join others in our fond memories of Chris and wish you all continued loving memories of him. We still remember going to the Caps game and visiting family at your home in Falls Church. As a young boy, there was also Thanksgiving in Dayton watching football and enjoying Aunt Ann and Uncle Jim. We all take solace in the mark Chris left on folks both at work and play. God Bless this fine man – a super husband and father. We all were lucky to know Chris.


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