Joseph “Joe” Richard Adcock, 76, of Huntsville, Alabama, passed away on the afternoon of Sunday, October 6, in his home with his loving wife, Alice, by his side.
Joe was born in Huntsville, AL, to Luther Austin and Lillian Estelle Adcock on March 7, 1948. He was a graduate of Lee High School’s Class of 1966. He went on to earn his Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa in 1970. After graduation, Joe worked as a lab technician for Huntsville Hospital, while attending the hospital’s first training program for medical technologists. He later worked at the Medical Center lab. After earning his MTASCP, the highest medical technologist certification available at that time, he worked as the night manager for Ambulatory Care Center in Huntsville. Joe later worked as a medical sales representative for Miles Laboratories, which became Bayer, for much of his professional career. He won many awards for top salesperson and being in the top percentage for sales throughout his time with Miles. He also worked for Henry Schein, a worldwide distributor of medical and dental supplies.
Joe enjoyed playing tennis for many years before succumbing to the symptoms of Parkinson’s disease (PD). He was a member of the Huntsville Athletic Club and participated in tennis tournaments, winning local awards. He and his family were also members of Mountain Springs Pool in the Blossomwood neighborhood, where he loved to take his grandchildren and play pool basketball with fellow members. A nature and arts enthusiast, he was a former member of the Huntsville Museum of Art (HMA) and the Huntsville Botanical Garden. He also took art classes at HMA. As an animal lover, he supported the World Wildlife Federation with charitable donations, in addition to supporting St. Jude Children’s Hospital. On Saturdays in the fall, you would find him watching his favorite football team, Alabama’s Crimson Tide. Joe and his wife attended Trinity United Methodist Church before PD became debilitating for him.
He is survived by his wife of 54 years, Alice M. (Etu) Adcock, born in Glens Falls, NY; his two daughters, Stephanie Kelley (husband, Steven Kelley) and Jennifer Quillin (husband, Tee Quillin) of Huntsville; brother, Phillip Adcock, of Huntsville; and two sisters, Rebecca Stinnett of Flintville, TN, and Janet Roof of Moulton, AL; four grandchildren, Amber (Kelley) Sennett of Charlottesville, VA, Anna Katherine Kelley of Huntsville, Holden Roy of Huntsville, and Aidan Roy of Huntsville; one great-grandchild, Daniel Avery Sennett; and several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents Luther and Lillian E. (Schmidt) Adcock, brother, Thomas Adcock of Huntsville, and sister, Geraldine Adcock.
The family is hosting a Celebration of Life for Joe in the Trillium Room at Burritt on the Mountain on Monday, October 14, from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. A brief program will be held at 5:30.
Memorial donations may be made to the Parkinson’s Foundation at www.parkinson.org. The family wishes to extend their gratitude to Gentiva Hospice, which provided care in the final weeks of Joe’s life.
