Stephen Adams

Stephen L. Adams was born on May 24, 1947 to Frank L. and Helen L. Adams in Goshen, Indiana.  He grew up in Gary, Indiana until he was twelve when he and his parents moved to Mishawaka, Indiana where he graduated from Mishawaka High School in 1965.               

Stephen enlisted in the U. S. Army in 1967 and served with the 1^st Cav. Air Mobile Infantry.   He was deployed to Vietnam in 1968 during the Tet Offensive and returned home in 1969.  While serving in the military he rose to Staff Sergeant and was awarded a Purple Heart and Medal of Commendation.

`Following his military service, Stephen returned home and enrolled at Indiana University and earned an undergraduate degree in secondary education in 1974.  He began teaching 7^th grade social studies at Jimtown Middle School in 1975.  Stephen moved to Pendleton, Indiana in 1975 and began teaching at Pendleton Heights Middle School.  Stephen would earn his master’s degree from Indiana University in 1978.  While at Pendleton Heights Middle School, Stephen would teach 8^th grade American History until he retired in 2005.  Over the course of his teaching career, he would touch the lives of thousands of students.  He would also serve as Social Studies Department Head, Team Leader for one of the 8th grade teams, Building Coordinator for state mandated school performance improvement, and ISTA building representative.

During his years of retirement Stephen would continue to touch the lives of students as he worked with the School of Education at Anderson University.  Stephen was the university supervisor for education students doing their teaching experience in secondary social studies.  Stephen’s student teachers would teach in many schools of Madison, Marion and Hancock counties.

Aside from his illustrious career, Stephen was first and foremost a loving husband, father, and grandfather.  He is survived by his beloved wife Judith Lynn (James) Adams, two daughters Kari (Brian) Bailey and Amanda (Dan) Strawser, and sons Aaron Gustin and Scott Adams.  He has seven grandchildren, Ian Bailey, Nolan Bailey, Sierra Adams, Austin Gustin, Johnathan Gustin, Jacob Gustin, and Sadie Jo Strawser.

A Celebration of Life will be held at a later date.