Delmar “Duane” Adams, 73, of Harrisville, WV, passed away January 20, 2024, at Marietta Memorial Hospital after a sudden illness.
He was born in Ritchie County on Feb. 27, 1950, the son of the late Maxine Adams Wilson and Delmar Adams. He was a graduate of Harrisville High School Class of 1968.
Duane loved to golf, but spent the majority of his time in the place that he held dear to his heart, Harrisville Shop N Save Express, with the people whom he loved and cared about. The employees who worked with him over the years were “his family”, while his customers became his best friends. He would go above and beyond for anyone who needed help!!
Duane retired from CVS in Parkersburg, WV, before returning to his hometown to manage Harrisville Shop N Save Express when it opened in March of 2013, where he managed it until his death. He receieved many compliments on how nice the store was and how friendly the staff was and he took great pride in that!
Reading the store’s Harrisville Shop N Save Facebook page, it was easy to see just how much he personally touched so MANY lives in the store and was recognized for always trying to better his hometown community. He loved making the community a better place and after much thought and discussion, he had told his family that he had decided to run for Mayor of Harrisville in the next term. Sadly, his passing would not allow him to do so, but everyone would agree that he would have been a GREAT MAYOR and would have had the entire town looking like a scene from a Hallmark movie!!
Duane was a firm believer in honoring our Veterans and took pride in hosting community dinners and continusouly helped sponsor any event to beneift Veterans. He was the creater of the huge Veteran’s Remeberance Wall located on the front entrance of the store for the community to honor all of their hometown heroes. His grandson Joshua Davidson’s name is listed on the wall and “Pap”.
“Duane” as he was lovingly known to his family was very proud of his grandson’s service to our country in the United States Army. Duane was also responsible for the enormous American Flag that waves above the driveway leading into the store in honor of his love for our Veterans.
The entire Ritchie County Community was touched by Duane in so many different ways that they cannot even begin to be listed. His unexpected passing is a huge loss to the communiuty and all whose paths he crossed over the years.
Duane is survived by his loving wife of 44 years, Dolores Colleen Miller Adams, whom he had such a strong love for. A kind of love that most people are never blessed to experience in their lifetime,they were inseprable unless he was at work. You never saw one without the other. In addition to his wife he is also survived by (not by blood but by heart) daughter Leza Collins Davidson of Parkersburg, WV, and son Greg Collins of Harrisville, WV, grandsons Josh Davidson, his wife April, and great-grandson Taylor all of Virginia and grandson Tyler Davidson, his partner Savannah Wade and the littlest love of Pap’s life 3 year old Eversyn Davidson all of Parkersburg, WV. Also surviving are brothers Kevin Wilson and his wife Tammy, Jay Wilson, Mickey Wilson and wife Phyllis, sisters Shelia Varner and husband Bob, and Rita Wilson, sister-in-law Vickie Adams and Sharkie Wilson.
In addition to his parents he was proceeded in death by his brothers Bob Adams and Joe Wilson and sisters Karen Six and Virginia Lee Wilson.
A celebration of life service will be held on Sunday, February 4, 2024, at 3pm at the North Pleasants Apostolic Tabernacle at 87 Iron Horse Drive, St. Mary’s, WV, 26170. Duane and Dolores had been going to there church for some time now and were both recently baptized. Dolores is requesting all who loved Duane to come to the service and celebrate his life which is being held on her birthday so she can celebrate her birthday with the love of her life one last time.
In lieu of flowers, a donation box will be available at the service and all donations will be given to continue with honoring the Veterans at the next Veterans event at the store. For those unable to attend the service a box will be made available at the store where donations can also be made to the local Veteran Community in Duane’s honor.
Stump Funeral Home & Cremation, Inc., Grantsville, WV, has been entrusted by the Adams family with the final arrangements of Duane. Online condolences may be expressed at www.stumpfuneralhomes.com
