Rev. Leigh E. Adams, 87, formerly of Berea, now of Wadsworth Ohio, went to be with the Lord on October 4 following several years of declining health. He was born June 1, 1928 in Fulton, New York, the oldest of five siblings. He is survived by brothers Walter, Elkview, WV; James, Largo, FL; and sisters Dorothy Buecher, Liverpool, NY, and Donna Peet, Dunedin, FL. He leaves his dear wife Carol of 63 years, and five children: sons John of Cleveland, NY; Jeffrey of Evans, GA; Thomas of Wadsworth, OH; Roger of Rome, NY, and daughter Julie of Williston, VT, as well as 13 beloved grandchildren and 4 great-grandchildren.

He enlisted in the US Navy at 17 toward the close of WW2 and served in Kodiak, Alaska with a Naval Air Squadron. He was recalled to active duty in 1951 where he was attached to a LTA (lighter than air/Blimp squadron) in North Carolina. During that time he heard the Gospel and trusted Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior. He married Carol Fletcher of Oswego, NY in 1952.

Following graduate studies in Dallas, Texas, Leigh and Carol served as missionaries in Québec, Canada for 10 years.

In 1970 Leigh and Carol returned to the United States where they established Campus Bible Fellowship groups on 23 campuses in the Northeast. Leigh became Baptist Mid-Missions’ Director for North American ministries in 1974, and retired in 1995 as First Vice President.

Following retirement he spearheaded evangelistic outreaches to the 1996 Summer Olympic Games in Atlanta, and the Salt Lake City Winter Olympics in 2002. He also served as Director of the Fellowship of Missions.

Viewing will be held at the Hilliard-Rospert Funeral Home 174 North Lyman Street, Wadsworth, Ohio on Tuesday (TODAY) from 2-4 & 6-8pm. A funeral service will be held there as well at 11am Wednesday. Interment will follow at the Ohio Western Reserve National Cemetery in Rittman, Ohio. In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts should be directed to the Baptist Mid-Missions’ World Relief Fund, Box 308011, Cleveland, OH 44130-8011.