Frederick David Adams was born April 20th, 1947 in Findlay, Ohio to Frederick O. Adams, and Sarah E. (Allen) Adams. Fred died of complications due to Congestive Heart Failure at Blanchard Valley Hospital early Monday morning, February 17, 2020. He was preceded in death by his father, Fred Adams; mother, Sarah Adams; ex-wife, Rita Adams; and granddaughter, Johnae Jones. He is survived by his sister, Vici Adams-Hill; daughter, Tisha M. Adams (Joe Thames); sons: Frederick D. Adams Jr, (Wendy Adams), Scott P. Adams (Teasha Adams), and Barry Adams; lifelong companion, Jan Ickes; 14 Grandchildren; 7 great-grandchildren; and many nieces, nephews, family, and friends. Fred graduated in the second class of the new Findlay High School in 1965, at the age of 18.

He worked for the Ohio State Department of Highways for one year before enlisting in the Army. He completed basic training at Ft. Benning and was assigned to the heavy equipment school at Ft. Belvoir, VA. In 1967, Fred was sent to Ft. Knox and assigned to the US Army Armor and Engineer Board, where the Army tested prototype weapons and equipment before being used on the front line. Fred worked with the Sheridan M551 tank, the Raider, and the new 715 Jeep/truck. He would stay there until October of 1967, when orders were cut for him to go to Vietnam. Fred arrived in Pleiku in December of 1967 with the 62nd Maintenance Battalion, providing direct support to various units stationed at Engineer Hill, Pleiku, Vietnam. (In his little free time, Fred used a Fujica and then a Pennee camera to capture amazing pictures of daily military life in Vietnam.) Upon his return to civilian life, the military life was still in his blood, however, and Fred enlisted in the Ohio National Guard, where he served with the 837th Engineers from 1973 to 1983. He transferred to the Army Reserves in Toledo and served until 1990. He left the Army with the rank of Sergeant First Class. Fred stayed active in his community, working closely with the Junior Achievement program at Marathon and being a Cubmaster for Pack 322 for more than ten years. He has spoken for years at local schools about his Vietnam war experiences. He was a member of the Amvets, DAV, and the VFW. He was head steward, trustee, and lifelong member of Mason Chapel AME church, and was instrumental in getting the church recognized as an Ohio historical edifice. Fred has achieved many awards and accolades, including Hancock County Veteran of the Year.