Harold Stephen (Steve) Adams, age 70, of Hot Springs, Virginia, and formerly of Clifton Forge, went to be with his Lord on Sunday, October 9, 2011 at Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center in Winston-Salem, North Carolina.

He was born April 3, 1941 in Paris, Illinois, to Harold and Genevieve Vaughn Adams.

He was an active member of Clifton Forge Baptist Church, where he co-taught the Men's Bible Class and served as deacon. He was a part of the VBMB Disaster Relief Team and campground hosted at Lake Moomaw.

Steve received his degrees from Eastern Illinois University, University of Omaha, and Virginia Tech. He taught biological sciences at Dabney S. Lancaster Community College for thirty-four years, fulfilling his life-long passion of teaching. Prior to that, he taught at Roanoke College and Bremmen High School in Chicago.

He continued to be involved in research regarding the health and status of forests in Virginia and West Virginia.

He was a member of the Nature Conservancy, Virginia Academy of Science, Southern Association of Biological Sciences, Paris Lodge # 268, Consistory, Valley of Danville, IL., and Ansar Temple, Springfield, IL.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a brother, Dennis Adams.

Steve is survived by his wife, Linda Kellison Adams of Hot Springs; four sons, Harold J. Adams of Indiana, Stephen Dean Adams and wife, Lori of Georgia, Mason Jeremy Adams and wife, Amy of Floyd County, and Andrew Seth Adams of High Point, NC; two brothers, Donnie Adams and wife, Carol of Houston, TX and Dale Adams and wife, Janie of Paris, IL; a sister-in-law, Mary Lou Adams; three granddaughters, Hope Adams, Kelly Grainger, and Abbey Adams; three great grandsons, Sean, Nate, and Dominik; and a number of nieces, nephews, cousins, brothers-in-law, and sisters-in-law.

A funeral service will be conducted on Thursday at 11:00 a.m. in Clifton Forge Baptist Church, Clifton Forge, with Reverend Rob Sherrard and Reverend Tom Harvey officiating. Interment will follow in Mt. Pleasant United Methodist Cemetery in Covington. Pallbearers will be Chuck Hodges, Michael Lipford, Tom McRoberts, Dan Bird, Richard VanLear, Ed Haverlack, Jeff Riley, and Steve Stephenson. Honorary pallbearers will be members of the Clifton Forge Baptist Church Men's Bible Class. The family will receive friends on Wednesday evening from 6:00 - 8:00 p.m. at Nicely Funeral Home, Clifton Forge, and other times at the residence, 6201 Hot Springs Road, Hot Springs, VA. The family suggests memorial tributes take the form of contributions to one of the following: Clifton Forge Baptist Church, 511 McCormick Blvd, Clifton Forge, VA 24422, the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, 5845 Richmond Highway, Suite 800, Alexandria, VA 22303, or to the Dabney S. Lancaster Community College Educational Foundation, C/O Linda Thompson, P.O. Box 1000, Clifton Forge, VA 24422.

Arrangements are being handled by Nicely Funeral Home, Clifton Forge.