Jean S. Adams, 98, of Vienna, died Dec. 9 at Camden Clark Medical Center after a brief illness. She was born and raised in Spencer and was the daughter of Hurley and Cardie (Rhodes) Stalnaker. Her first job was at the popcorn window of the Robey Theatre. After graduating from Spencer High School in 1944 ("Yellow Jackets, Yellow Jackets, rah, rah, rah"), she worked for some years at the Trader's Bank in Spencer. In 1952 she married her childhood next door neighbor, Harry R. Adams, Jr., after which they resided in Charleston. During this time she worked at Kanawha Valley Bank. In 1958 Harry and Jean moved to Vienna, and she began a 40+ year-long career at Parkersburg National (now United) Bank. She was a dedicated employee and proudly had pretty much every piece of United merch produced over the years.

Having grown up with a tight-knit gang of Rhodes relations, outstanding cooks and bakers all, good food was at the center of family life, and Jean maintained that standard until just a few years ago, when she was no longer physically able to work in the kitchen. All the Rhodeses had dessert specialties, and hers were date pudding, Texas sheet cake, and Christmas orange cookies. Even after she could no longer make food herself, what was for dinner was an essential part of every day's conversation. In her final days she gave considerable thought to what would be on the menu during the upcoming holidays.

As she got into her 90s and her health issues became more significant, Jean was determined to stay put in her own house and would not entertain any suggestion to the contrary. Thanks to her dear friend and primary caregiver Anita Weaver and the staff of Housecalls Hospice, and with a lot of help from co-mother-in-law Pam Doyon, she was able to do exactly that.

Jean is survived by her son, Matthew, daughter-in-law, Wendy Doyon, and grandson Holt, who brought her great joy from the moment he came into this world. She was preceded in death by her parents, brother Francis Stalnaker, and husband Harry.

A private burial in Spencer Memorial Cemetery is planned.