William Wallace Adams Jr., age 73, of Paducah, went home to be with the Lord at 3:40 p.m. Wednesday, July 25, 2012, from his residence.

Mr. Adams graduated from Lone Oak High School, Bethel Baptist College and Austin Peay State University.

He earned his Master’s Degree and 30 hours above from Murray State University. Mr. Adams retired from the McCracken County School System after 40 years of service, seven years as a teacher, 19 years as Assistant Principal, and 14 years as principal of Lone Oak High School. He was also a member of the Kentucky Retired Teachers Association.

Mr. Adams served for 20 years as a McCracken County Deputy Sheriff. His law enforcement career spanned the administration of five different Sheriffs.

He was also ordained as a Southern Baptist Minister on January 29, 1961, by the Twelfth Street Baptist Church. He was pastor for 29 years at Cane Creek Baptist Church in Wickliffe, Ky., and currently served as associate pastor of Hillcrest Baptist Church.

Mr. Adams was also a Kentucky Colonel.

Mr. Adams is survived by his wife of almost 32 years, Peggy Jean Alderson Adams; one daughter, Kristie Anne Adams Stuber of Paducah; and two sons, William “Bill” Adams III and Timothy Linn Adams, both of Paducah. He is also survived by three stepdaughters, Melody Wyatt Walker of Sharpe, Terri Lee Wyatt of Paducah and Sami Kay Owen of Benton; two sisters, Joe Ann Hightower of Michigan and Nancy Ruoff of Tarpon Springs, Fla.; one brother, Robert M. Adams of Louisville; along with four grandchildren, two great-grandchildren, eight stepgrandchildren and seven stepgreat-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by one stepgrandson; and his parents, William Wallace Adams Sr. and Mildred Zauf Adams.

A celebration of the life of Mr. William Wallace Adams Jr. will take place at 2 p.m. Sunday, July 29, 2012, at Milner & Orr Funeral Home of Paducah with the Rev. Larry Jackson and the Rev. Don Garrison officiating.

Burial will follow in Woodlawn Memorial Gardens.

Friends may visit with the family from 5 p.m. until 8 p.m. Saturday, July 28, 2012, at Milner & Orr Funeral Home of Paducah.

Expressions of sympathy may take the form of contributions to Lourdes Hospice, P.O. Box 7100, Paducah, KY 42002-7100.

You may light a candle or leave a message of comfort at www.milnerandorr.com.