Leon William Adams, Business and Civic Leader, 90

NEWARK - Leon William Adams, age 90, of Newark, died on Tuesday, Aug. 11, 2009, at Christiana Hospital. Mr. Adams was born in Wilmington on Feb. 5, 1919, son of the late Bessie L. Adams and Thurman G. Adams. A 1941 graduate of the University of Delaware, he was elected president of his class and was also a member of the Kappa Alpha fraternity. Following graduation, he would go on to serve his country proudly in the U.S. Army during World War II. From 1946 to 1959, Mr. Leon and his beloved wife, Theresa C. Schreppler Adams, owned and operated Sussex Hardware in Seaford. In 1960 he established the independent insurance firm, Leon W. Adams Agency in Newark. Other offices were located in Wilmington and Seaford. In 1985, he was named National Agent of the Year for Travelers Insurance. Active in his community, Mr. Leon was a member of Hiram Lodge #21, AF & AM, the Nur Temple, and the Lions Club. He was a former member of the Board of Directors of Delaware National Bank. He greatly enjoyed playing golf throughout his life and was a member of both the Seaford Golf and Country Club and the Newark Country Club. Other favorite hobbies included coin collecting, reading, gardening, and collecting antique red glass (particularly Bohemia glass). He was a seasoned traveler as well, and had visited countries all over the world. He is survived by his beloved wife of 66 years, Theresa; son, L. William Adams Jr. of Elkton, Md.; daughter, Catherine Adams Masek of Severa Park, Md.; sister, Beatrice Shockley of Millsboro; and grandchildren, Afton E. Adams, Edward A. Masek, and Sarah R. Masek. A funeral service was held Thursday, Aug. 13, at Spicer-Mullikin Funeral Home, 121 West Park Place, Newark. A committal service was held Friday, Aug. 14, at Bloomery Cemetery, Federalsburg, Md. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Bloomery Cemetery Perpetual Care Fund, 26541 Possum Hill Road, Federalsburg, MD 21632. To sign guest register, visit spicermullikin.com.