David Stewart Adams

David Stewart Adams, 85, died at 7:57 a.m. on Friday, August 9, 2024, at his home in Lima.

He was born November 5, 1938, in Elizabeth, New Jersey, the only child of David and Catherine (Cameron) Beach. In 1943 his mother divorced his birth father after he deserted the family. His mother remarried and David was adopted in 1946 by Lawrence Ware Adams. In 1963, David married Estella Burge Searing. David and Estella were married for 45 years until Estella passed away in 2008.

A 1956 graduate of Stamford (CT) High School, David received a BA degree from Piedmont College (now Piedmont University, Demorest, GA) and was awarded a National Woodrow Willson Fellowship (now Citizens & Scholars) in 1961. David earned a MA at the University of Georgia and a PhD from Ohio State University. He taught sociology at Ohio Northern University for 3 years and the Lima Campus of OSU for a total of 30 years. After retirement in 1995, he was employed part-time at the United Way of Greater Lima for 8 years, raising money for its endowment, and served 2 terms on Lima’s City Council, representing the 8th Ward.

David and Estella were active in the community. They were long-time members of Riverside North Neighborhood association, League of Women Voters of the Lima Area, Christ Episcopal Church, and St. Luke’s EV Lutheran Church. After retirement, David taught humor and film classes for OSU-Lima’s Lifelong Learning Institute and Bluffton University’s Learning in Retirement. He was a member of the Allen County Democratic Party Central Committee and board member of United Way of Greater Lima, Cross Roads Crisis Center, Lima Symphony Orchestra, Lima Area Concert Band, ArtSpace/Lima, and Allen County Red Cross. He was a 22-gallon Red Cross blood donor, and David represented the board at monthly meetings of the Lima Correctional Institute’s branch chapter. He was a Master Gardener and a charter member of Argonne Literary Society and Adventure Club.

David received awards for community service including: Golden Rule and Jefferson Awards from the United Way, Town and Gown Award from OSU-Lima, John Keller Award from the City Council, and Liberty Bell Award from the Bar Association. In 1995 he was honored to receive Ohio State University’s Alumni Award for Distinguished Teaching.

David was a self-taught cartoonist and print-maker. He donated comic drawings and relief prints to many local and regional organizations for posters, postcards, t-shirts, newsletters, programs, and publications. For 21 years, his comic strip, “The Bean Family” appeared on the City of Lima’s monthly water bill, encouraging donations to city parks. In late 2021, Art/Space mounted a retrospective exhibit of his comic drawings and prints. David was also a movie buff, and for more than 15 years, reviewed films weekly for WLIO-TV and the Lima News. “Seven hundred and fifty flicks,” said David. “That’s a lot of bad movies.”

David is survived by members of Estella’s Florida family and his maternal cousins in Scotland (where his mother was born), England and New Zealand. David and Estella had no children. They enjoyed the company of many loving and generous friends, including Kevin Reeks, Cathy Woodward, and Lyle and Judy Gilbert. After Lyle’s passing in 2010, David and Judy shared their love and last years together. 

The family will receive friends from 2 – 4 p.m. and 6 – 8 p.m. on Friday, August 16, 2024, at Chamberlain-Huckeriede Funeral Home.   The memorial service will begin at 11 a.m. on Saturday, August 17, 2024, at St. Lukes Lutheran Church. Pastor Dave Westphal will officiate.

Memorial contributions may be made to OSU-Lima scholarships, United Way of Greater Lima Endowment, ArtSpace/Lima, or the Lima Symphony Orchestra.

Arrangements handled by Chamberlain-Huckeriede Funeral Home. Condolences may be expressed at www.chamberlainhuckeriede.com.