Francis Joseph Adams, 89, formerly of Punxsutawney, passed away at Arden Courts of North Hills in Pittsburgh on July 2, 2026.
Mr. Adams was born on January 21, 1937, a son of the late Ralph Adams and Catherine (Polito) Adams.
On October 11, 1958 he married his sweetheart, Donna (Fairman) Adams, who preceded him in death on February 28, 2023. They enjoyed 64 years of marriage together.
Francis faithfully served his country in the United States Army.
He devoted many years of his career as a train dispatcher for the B&O Railroad and the Chessie System Railroad. Francis was also a skilled self-employed contractor. Through his company, AB Enterprises, he helped build and renovate countless homes throughout the Punxsutawney area. He was known for his exceptional craftsmanship, meticulous attention to detail, and unwavering pride in a job done right.
Mr. Adams was a longtime parishioner of Saints Cosmas and Damian Roman Catholic Church.
Francis found great joy in caring for his lawn and gardens, taking immense pride in keeping them beautiful. Construction was more than a profession, it was a lifelong passion. He couldn’t walk into a building without studying its craftsmanship, always appreciating the work that went into its construction, and few things brought him greater satisfaction than the smell of fresh-cut sawdust. He also enjoyed taking drives around town in his truck, and stopping at Burger King for coffee with his friends. Above all, Francis cherished his family. He cared for them deeply, and will be remembered as a hardworking, humble, and genuinely good man.
Preceded in death by his parents, and his wife, Donna.
Survived by daughter, Marsha Rush (Jeffrey) of Pittsburgh; granddaughters, Rachael (Dylan) Watkins and Allison Rush of Pittsburgh; brother, Ralph (Carol) Adams of Punxsutawney, and niece, Michelle (Jim) Hall of Punxsutawney.
Friends will be received on July 15 from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at the Shumaker Funeral Home, Inc., Punxsutawney.
A funeral mass will be held on July 16 at 11:00 a.m. at Saints Cosmas and Damian Roman Catholic Church, celebrated by Monsignor Joseph Riccardo.
Entombment will follow at Calvary Cemetery in Punxsutawney
Online condolences may be made at www.shumakerfh.com
To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Francis Joseph Adams, please visit our floral store.
