Sandra Ruth was born the fourth day of March 1947 at the General Hospital in Tacoma, Washington. The hospital was near the Air Force Base at Fort Lewis, Wa. We were told there were 80 other babies in the hospital at that time so our visiting privileges would be very limited. Evelyn and I were both delighted to welcome Sandra and since she was born on the birthday of my sister Ruth it seemed only proper that she should be named Sandra Ruth. Also, welcoming her arrival was her brother Leslie Paul and her sister, Carla Fern.
Soon after her first birthday in 1948, I received a Pastoral call from a Church in Idaho and our family was transferred to Rupert, Idaho in July of that year. our first summer in Rupert nearly ended in tragedy when Sandra, inadvertently, fell into the irrigation ditch which brought water for our lawn and garden. Fortunately, i was able to retrieve here and she was not injured.
At a very tender age, Sandra dedicated her life to our Lord and received a personal experience with Him that was evident to all who knew her through her life.
It was in Rupert that Sandra began to show great interest in the piano. She was playing hymns by ear before she started to school. We engaged one of her teachers, who also taught music, to give piano lessons to Sandra. Soon she was playing at recitals. We purchased an accordion for her and almost immediately she began playing and singing with her two siblings.
On one occasion when Sandra was eight years old, she traveled with me by train, to Montana where I conducted special church services. Sandra played the piano each night for the congregational worship before I spoke. She also sang a solo each night while accompanying herself on the accordion.
In 1957 I was elected as Pastor of a church in British Columbia, Canada so it was moving time again for the Adams family. Sandra did not want to leave Idaho and she said to us, "If i die in Canada, you must promise to bring my body back to Idaho for burial."
Sandra continued studying music along with regular school activities. During the years that followed, she graduated from the Toronto Conservatory of Music grade ten. Much of the time, she also played the piano or the organ in our church.
One highlight of Sandra's time spent in Canada was the "Around the World Tour" she made with her mother and I. She was delighted to visit some fifteen countries during this six month period, playing and singing in churches wherever we traveled. I remember one exciting incident during our three month stay in India. I had borrowed a new motorcycle from our missionary and one beautiful afternoon I took Sandra on a motorcycle excursion of the community. Everything went well until ... while going down a slight decline on the gravel road, the front wheel began to spin out of control on the marble sized gravel. Yes ... we spilled! I was so troubled because the motorcycle was new and alas, it was borrowed. As I began to pick up the cycle and dust it off I noticed some scratches and felt so badly, wondering how I would explain this to the missionary. Just then, I heard a familiar voice crying out, "Well, F A T H E R, you might look over here. I am injured too. And she was; her leg was bleeding and I realized there was something more valuable than this metal bike. I am not sure that Sandra ever did fully forgive me, but I tried to assure her that indeed, she was much more valuable than any man made machine.
She loved missionary work and in 1969 she went as a missionary to the Philippines. During her mission tenure her two sons, Daren Chadney and Shaun Brendan were born. These boys matured into fine men of character each with loving families of their own. During the last two weeks of Sandra's life, Chad and Shaun were constantly by their mother's side, holding her hands while praying singing, or reading the scriptures at her request.
Sandra was a licensed minister of "Grace International," a worldwide Fellowship of Ministers and Churches. Besides her church activities she worked in the office of Trust Joist Mac Millan for twelve years. She then retired from this position and became Church Administrator of Fellowship Church. This position she held until she was promoted by our Lord on May 2, 2008.
Eleven years ago, Sandra was married to Leonard Hoffman who also has similar interests in Church work, along with teaching school at Franklin High Special Ed Department in Elk Grove.
For the last five years they have worked side by side with Sandra's son Shaun. Sandra as music coordinator and administrator and Leonard on the PCN (Pastoral Care Network) of Fellowship Church.
Sandra was diagnosed with a malignant brain tumor on January 21st and was called home to be with the Lord one hundred days later, on May 2nd. She was sixty one years, one month, and twenty nine days of age.
Sandra is survived by her beloved husband, Leonard Hoffman, her parents, Carl and Evelyn Adams, her two sons, Chad and his wife Joei, and Shaun along with his wife Dianna. She is survived by seven grandchildren, Darian, seth, and Kiersten, Hadassah, Moriah, Victoria and Alexandra. Sandra is survived by her brother Paul and his wife Sharon, her sister Carla and her husband Rest. She is survived by two uncles, one aunt, many nieces, nephews and cousins and of course a host of friends and church family.
Sandra prayed that she would one day meet all of us by the gates of heaven. Knowing that she is now with Jesus greatly increases the magnetic force of Heaven, drawing us even closer to our Lord and to the great Reunion we will soon celebrate with Jesus and with all who have chosen to believe in Him and surrender their lives to His care.
The tattered tent in which Sandra lived for sixty one years has been interred at the Pleasant Grove Cemetery in Elk Grove, Ca., and she rests securely, in the loving arms of our Savior who has welcomed her to heavens eternal home, where there is no more pain, no more tears, no more sorrow and no more death.
Good night Sandra, we will see you in the morning.
