John E. Adams, Jr.

John E. Adams, Jr., 82, formerly of Harrisburg and Camp Hill, passed away peacefully on Monday, March 14, 2016 at Masonic Village in Elizabethtown.

Born May 30, 1933 in East Pennsboro Township, he was the son of the late John and Edith (Swartz) Adams and was also preceded in death by a brother, Kenneth E. Adams.

He was a 1951 graduate of William Penn High School and following graduation, entered the US Navy where he served his country from 1951 to 1955.  Employed with several printing companies, he ultimately became the owner and President of Capital City Binder, Harrisburg.

He had been a member of the Camp Hill United Methodist Church and several other churches and was currently a member at Sell Chapel at Masonic Village.

As a long time active member of many Masonic organizations, John was the retired Secretary for the Valley of Harrisburg and continued working for the Council until 2012.  He was a member, past Worshipful Master, past Secretary and Trustee for the Robert Burns Lodge #464 F&AM; member of Valley of Harrisburg, AASR (Assistant Secretary and Secretary); Harrisburg Lodge of Perfection (Thrice Potent Master); Tall Cedars of Lebanon, Forest #43; Zembo Shrine; member of Perseverance Chapter #21, F&AM; Zembo Luncheon Club (Past President); Trinity Conclave, Red Cross of Constantine (Trustee of the John Eshleman Fund); National Sojourner's, Harrisburg Chapter #76; was a DeMolay Honorary Legion of Honor recipient;  was active in numerous other organizations, and was conferred as a 33° in 1981.  In 2012, he received the Supreme Council, NMJ, Distinguished Service Award.

He also officiated football and basketball for 26 years, from the high school to semi-professional levels.  He was member and Past President of the Central PA Chapter PIAA Football and Basketball Officials and was a member of several other officiating organizations.  He officiated the "Big 33" game in 1970; and for over 50 years was a member of the American Legion.

Surviving is his wife of over 61 years, Audell M. (Cole) Adams; his son, Robert K. Adams (and his husband Gerald Aguirre), San Francisco, CA; his daughter, Lisa M. Adams Hopkins (and her husband Steven H. Hopkins), Harrisburg; 2 brothers, Harry L. Adams (and his wife, Betsy), Mechanicsburg and Jerry L. Adams (and his wife, Maureen), Harrisburg; 3 grandchildren, Jonathan Hopkins, Lauren Hopkins-Williams (and her husband, Nathan) and Meagan Hopkins (and her fiancé Jeff Hare); and many other relatives, friends, and brothers in Lodge.

A memorial service and Masonic services will be held 12:30 pm Monday, March 21, 2016 at Sell Chapel, 1 Masonic Drive, Elizabethtown.  Friends will be received from 11:30 am until 12:30 pm at the chapel.  Burial with military honors will be in Indiantown Gap National Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Heritage Builders Fund of the Harrisburg Consistory, 2701 N 3rd St, Harrisburg, 17110 or The American Cancer Society in memory of John Edward Adams, Jr., 2 Lemoyne Dr. #101, Lemoyne, 17043.

Kimmel Funeral Home, Harrisburg, is handling arrangements.