Mrs. Eloise Knox Adams of Lexington, and formerly of Vero Beach, Fla., passed away peacefully at her home on Sept. 4, 2024.

She was the wife of the late Nate L. Adams II and is survived by three sons, Hawes and his wife Karen of Columbia, S.C., Robert Knox of Fayetteville, N.C., and Nate Adams III and his wife Liza of Winchester; five grandchildren, Kim, Cabell, Lee, Rob and John Adams; two great-grandsons, Jack and Mason; and her brother, Dr. Robert H. Knox of Washington, D.C.

Mrs. Adams was born in Lexington on Oct. 20, 1928, at the old Stonewall Jackson Hospital (now the Stonewall Jackson House), then located on East Washington Street. She was the daughter of Col. Robert H. Knox of the Virginia Military Institute faculty and his wife, Agnes Inglis Knox, and she grew to have a deep love of all things related to VMI. 

After graduating from Lexington High School in three years, Mrs. Adams enrolled in Mary Washington College (now Mary Washington University) and completed her education with a B. A. degree in history.

Mrs. Adams and her late husband were married in 1948.  He was a career Marine officer, and she successfully took on the toughest job the Marine Corps had to offer, that of Marine wife and mother.  Mrs. Adams had few peers in overcoming the many challenges she faced during those years.  Those included raising three active boys while moving to various duty stations, often living there for two years or less, and having her husband absent for extended periods of time due to the Korean and Viet Nam conflicts and other military assignments. However, it allowed them to travel extensively throughout the United States and Europe.  There is a special place in Heaven for the mother of three very active boys. 

She was especially proud of her family heritage in Scotland and was able to trace her ancestry back to the 12th century.  Her family tree included Mary, Queen of Scots, John Knox, and a distant connection to Queen Elizabeth II of Great Britain.

Mrs. Adams enjoyed traveling, and reunions of VMI and Marine Corps classes. Her friends knew her as an avid bridge player.  She was an active volunteer for the Episcopal Church and for many other charitable organizations, including the Philanthropic Education Organization International, which assists female students with educational expenses.  She was often elected to leadership positions for these organizations.

She was an excellent wife, mother, and friend and will be missed.  She lived and died the way Frank Sinatra would have approved – her way. Her family is grateful for a life well-lived.

The family would like to thank her caregivers, especially Debbie Harlow and Amanda Hostetter, for whom she had deep affection.  The support and assistance from Connections + Hospice were invaluable.

A memorial service will be held on Saturday, Oct. 19, at 10 a.m. at Grace Episcopal Church in Lexington.  Burial will be at Quantico National Cemetery with her late husband at a later date.

Memorials may be sent to Grace Episcopal Church at 123 W. Washington St. in Lexington.