William “Bill” Naylor Adams, 83, of Southern Pines, and Boyds, Md., passed Thursday May 10, 2012, in Pinehurst. 
A memorial service was held Friday, May 11, at Boles Funeral Home in Southern Pines.
Inurnment will follow later in the year at Arlington National Cemetery, and will be followed by a second memorial service in Boyds, Md.
Mr. Adams was born Jan. 29, 1929, in Fort Benning, Ga., to the late Dwight “Babe” Lyman Adams and Margaret “Tykie” Naylor Adams.  
Mr. Adams attended Lane High School in Charlottesville, Va.; he later served three years active duty in the U.S. Army, with subsequent service in the Florida Army National Guard. Bill obtained a B.S. from the University of Virginia, and an M.E. from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. He spent more than 50 years as a mechanical engineer in the power industry, working for Combustion Engineering, Bechtel Power Corporation, and as an independent consultant. He traveled to every continent and made many loyal friends.
A lifelong learner, Bill attended Montgomery College late in the 1990s, earning an AA and specializing in geographic information systems.
He enjoyed his home in Boyds, Md., referring to it as “paradise” on many occasions.
Family memories include games of “Red Baron” tag, road trips, walking Civil War battlefields, and Bill’s ability to fix anything using duct tape and his welding machine.
Mr. Adams is survived by his wife of 57 years, Elizabeth Seekell Fletcher Adams. He is also survived by sister Nancy, brother Dwight, daughters Leslie, Margaret, Ann, and Jenny, four sons-in-law, and six grandchildren. 
Mr. Adams was preceded in death by a son, William “Willie” Naylor Adams, Jr.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made in memory of William N. Adams to the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, CHOP Foundation, Lockbox 1352, P.O. Box 8500 Philadelphia, PA 19178; the UVA Engineering Foundation, P.O. Box 400256, Charlottesville, VA 22904; the Montgomery College Foundation, 900 Hungerford Drive, Rockville, MD 20850; or the HHT Foundation International, Inc, P.O. Box 329, Monkton, MD 21111. 
Online condolences may be made at www.bolesfuneralhome.com.
Boles Funeral Home of Southern Pines is serving the family.