Francis R. Adams Jr., 90


Francis R. "Rank" Adams Jr., 90, of Harrisonburg, died Sept. 26, 2006, in Harrisonburg of a heart attack.

Mr. Adams was born Aug. 19, 1916, and was the son of Dr. Francis R. Adams and Frances Crippen Adams of Watsontown, Pa.

He was a retired English teacher. He held an A.B. from Williams College and a Ph.D. from the University of Maryland.

He had taught at Susquehanna, Yale, Maryland, East Carolina and James Madison Universities and for the last 10 years of his career taught English and real estate as an adjunct at Blue Ridge Community College. He was also employed as a realtor by Horsley and Constable.

He was a member for more than 50 years of the Modern Language Association, the College English Association and the American Civil Liberties Union. In recent decades he had been a member of the Shenandoah Valley Railroad Club. A humanist, he had no religious affiliation.

In 1942, he married his first wife, Margaret Phillips Weeks of Selinsgrove, Pa.; she preceded him in death.

In 1950, he married Louise Ayer Bradley of Lexington; she survives.

Also surviving are two daughters, Mr. Bob Brownlee of Milheim, Pa., and Katherine Bradley Adams of Brookline, Mass.; a son, F.R. Adams III of Selinsgrove, Pa., seven grandchildren and four great-granddaughters.

A private funeral will take place in Pennsylvania. Memorial contributions may be made to the Blue Ridge Community College Educational Fund, Inc., P.O. Box 80, Weyers Cave, VA 24486.

The Kyger Funeral Home in Harrisonburg is in charge of arrangements.