Mr. Richard Roy Adams, age 86, of Florence, Indiana, entered this life on October 8, 1936 in Carrollton, Kentucky. He was the son of Roy G. and Mabel (Carver) Adams. He was raised in Switzerland County, Indiana and was a 1954 graduate of Patriot High School. Richard was inducted into the United States Air Force on November 26, 1964 in Colorado, serving in the Vietnam War as a security police squadron. He received the Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with one Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster, Vietnam Service Medal with one Bronze Service Star, National Defense Service Medal, Air Force Medal, Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal, Air Force Commendation Medal with two Oak Leaf Clusters, Air Force Good Conduct Medal with four Oak Leaf Clusters and the Air Force Longevity Service Award with three Oak Leaf Clusters. Richard served his country for 22 years and 1 month and retired as Master Sergeant at Wurtsmith Air Force Base in Michigan on September 30, 1977. Richard was united in marriage on December 29, 1958 to Shirley Mae Bauer in Culbertson, Nebraska. This union of 26 years was blessed with two children, Rick and Katrina. Richard graduated in 1987 from Lewis Clark State College in Lewiston, Idaho with a degree in VA Public Administration. He was employed in administration for a nursing home in Idaho and Merced, California. He was also employed for Hitchcock County Sheriff’s Office in Trenton, Nebraska for four years. Richard was later employed for Nebraska State Crime Commission in Lincoln, Nebraska for three years. He was employed as administrator for a nursing home in Elizabethtown, Kentucky for a few years and later for The Water’s of Rising Sun in Rising Sun, Indiana. Richard moved back to the Florence, Indiana community where he had resided since 1995. Richard was united in marriage on October 17, 1998 to Leona Amelia Stutzman at the Hamline Chapel United Methodist Church in Lawrenceburg, Indiana. This happy union shared nearly 25 years together until Leona passed away on May 1, 2023. Richard was the former County Veteran’s Service Officer for Switzerland County from 2000-2015. Richard and Leona were awarded the 2014 Golden Hoosier Award from LifeTime Resources. He served as a committee member of Lifetime Resources since 2012. He was a member at the Quercus Grove Methodist Church and also served on the board of trustees. Richard also served as past president of the Patriot Alumni. Richard was a member of the Florence Lodge #27 F&AM for over 50 years. Leona and Richard enjoyed music and was a member of the Vevay Music Club where they performed country and gospel music at various Switzerland County events. Richard and Leona volunteered for several years in the gift shop at Dearborn County Hospital. Richard was a member of the Vevay American Legion Post #185 and the Vevay VFW Post #5396 and served as the honor guard chaplain for several years. Richard was very patriotic and was a proud American and loved his country and his community. Richard passed away at 8:00 a.m., Wednesday July 5, 2023, at the St. Elizabeth Healthcare in Florence, Kentucky.
Richard is survived by his son, Rick Adams and his wife, Shelly of Norfolk, NE; his step-children, Victoria Meyer and her husband, Hugh of Springs, TX, Paul Frederick James, Jr. and his wife, Mayme of Vevay, IN and Michael Lee James and his wife, Cathy of Vevay, IN; his grandchildren, Zachary (Danielle) Adams, Lacey Adams, Briana (Jon) Watkins and Brooke Binkley; his great-grandchildren, Declan and Zoey; his step-grandchildren, Brian, Chris, Natalie, Danny, Paula Jo, Sarah, Blake and Tessa; his several step-great-grandchildren, and step-great-great-grandchildren; his sister, Martha Stephenson and her husband, Harry of Elizabethtown, IN; his brother, Frank Adams of Georgetown, OH and his nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Leona Amelia (Stutzman) Adams; his daughter, Katrina C. “Kathy” Binkley, died January 23, 2010; his father, Roy G. Adams; his mother, Mabel (Carver) Adams; his sister, Virginia Ann “Ginny” Adams; his brothers, Robert Emerson “Bob” Adams and Arthur Bettens “Art” Adams; his step-brother, Charles Noble Adams and his step-sister, Emma Lou Brindley.
Visitation will be held from 4:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m., Sunday, July 9, 2023, at the Haskell & Morrison Funeral Home, 208 Ferry Street, Vevay, Indiana 47043.
Masonic Services will be conducted at 6:30 p.m., Sunday, July 9, 2023, at the Haskell & Morrison Funeral Home, 208 Ferry Street, Vevay, Indiana 47043.
Funeral services will be conducted at 10:00 a.m., Monday, July 10, 2023, at the Haskell & Morrison Funeral Home, 208 Ferry Street, Vevay, Indiana 47043.
Interment and full military rites will be conducted by the Honor Guard of the Vevay American Legion Post #185 and the Vevay VFW Post #5396 in the Indiana Veterans Memorial Cemetery, 1415 North Gate Road, Madison, Indiana 47250.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Florence Masonic Lodge #27 F&AM, Vevay American Legion Post #185 or Vevay VFW Post #5396. Cards are available at the funeral home or online at www.haskellandmorrison.com