Kathleen Luth-Adams

Kathleen “Pat” Luth Adams was born into eternal life Monday, September 5, 2016, in her home after a short illness.

Her earthly life began May 3, 1930, in St. Louis, Mo., the child of Katherine Dorothy Shoults and Carl William Shoults, she was preceded in death by her parents and her first husband James Luth.

She leaves behind to cherish her memory, her beloved husband, Budd Adams; five daughters and spouses: Dr. Janice Luth ( Dr. Dennis Goff), Dr. Kathryn Luth Sparhawk (Dr. Tom Sparhawk), Sandra Diederich (Ray), Dr. Virginia Blanks (Greg), and Mary Ann Adelstein; twenty grandchildren, Michael (Camden), Kate, and Ariel Goff, Matthew (Valerie), Elena, Nick, and Ches Bono, Stephanie, Caroline, Laura Ray, and Gloria Diederich, Benjamin, James, Martha, Sallie, and Jessie Blanks, Rachel, Max, Holden, and Carly Adelstein; two great-grandchildren, Lacey Goff and Luke Bono; Tom’s daughter, Alice; step-daughters and family, Denise MacDonald (Travis), daughters, Margot and Madeleine, and Linda Hamlet (Clifford),  daughter, Emma;  and lifelong friends, Betty and Hank Schaefer.

Kathleen was known as Pat during her working days as athletic director at the YWCA on Church Street in Lynchburg. She revitalized their sports programs as she developed swimming lessons for all ages, infants through 85, including persons with disabilities from the Lynchburg Training School. She started basketball and volleyball leagues in the gym, and with her friends Hank and Betty Schaefer built homemade equipment and converted the balcony of the gym into Lynchburg’s first gymnastics program. She was a counselor at Camp Sacajawea and helped develop Camp Ruthers, and started a women’s racquetball league and a women’s golf league, the first women’s sports leagues in Lynchburg.

Kathleen was an active member of Holy Cross Catholic Church and served the poor and disabled through the Ladies of Charity; she sang in the church choir and in Sweet Adelines, and led a Girl Scout troop for many years. She was an accomplished painter, sculptor, musician, and photographer.

After her retirement she cared for her mother, helped raise her grandchildren, and supported her husband of 55 years, Jim, during his final illness. At age 79, she met and married Budd Adams, finding love, companionship and great joy in their many adventures, travels, and theatrical performance viewings. Until her final illness, she and Budd were daily visitors at the neighborhood pool, exercising vigorously with beach balls.

Kathleen’s compassion, generosity, and talents enriched the lives of thousands of people in Central Virginia, and while she will be eternally missed, she lives on in them.

The family will receive friends at Tharp Funeral Home Lynchburg, 220 Breezewood Drive, Thursday, September 8, 2016, from 5 to 7 p.m. The funeral Mass of Christian Burial will be Friday, September 9, 2016, at 2 p.m. at Holy Cross Church with a reception following. Interment will be at Holy Cross Cemetery.