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Charles Jon “Coach” Adams, 83, passed away on March 3, 2019 in Greenville. A memorial service will be at 1 P.M., Wednesday, March 6, 2019 at United Presbyterian Church with Rev. Candice Womack officiating. Coker-Mathews Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Coach Adams was born in Commerce, Texas on January 16, 1936 to John C. Adams and Mary Kelly Adams. He served in the United States Army from 1960 to 1964 in an Army Ranger Unit. Thereafter, he graduated from East Texas State University in 1968, and earned his master’s degree from East Texas State University in 1970. He worked for the Lighthouse for the Blind helping clients find employment after receiving vocational training. He then began his long and fulfilling teaching career, first at Mesquite High School in 1970, where he once was attacked by a lion while teaching driver’s ed. In 1976, he began teaching for the Greenville Independent School District, where he taught all of the social sciences, driver’s education (without serious incident), coached football, track, and touched and influenced the lives of countless students, to whom he would give nicknames and send out for doughnuts. He retired to the gun range in 2005.
Coach Adams loved his family, Texas history, the State of Texas generally, and the University of Texas in particular, where he sent his children and his money. No one had a bigger personality, sense of humor, or more integrity. He was discreetly generous and could talk to anyone about anything.
He had few, if any, vices, although he once set a lady’s fur coat on fire with his pipe at a Texas football game in the mid ‘60s, and attended a weekly poker game with his teaching colleagues when teachers could still get away with things like that.
No father or husband was more loved or will be missed more than Coach Adams.
He is survived by his wife, Polly Adams; daughters, Susan Elaine Cherico (wife of Tipton Cherico) and Holly Shannon Rice (wife of Dr. David Rice and mother of Katie Rice and Emily Rice); son, Mitch Adams (husband of Kerry Adams and father of Sarah Adams and Charlie Adams); special son, Jeffrey Jones (husband of Jerry Sue Jones and father of Justin Jones and Aaron Jones), and sister, Carolyn Grant.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to United Presbyterian Church United Faith Fund, 5905 Stonewall St., Greenville, Texas 75402 or charity of your choice.