James H. Folk Sr., 87, of St. Marys died 12:07 p.m. Dec. 13, 2009, at Otterbein Retirement Community, near Grand Lake St. Marys.

He was born March 3, 1922, in St. Marys to J. Harold and Florence Buehler Folk.

On May 10, 1947, he married Mildred Jeanne Carey, who died Aug. 2, 1987. On May 25, 1990, he married Marion Dapper Tenyak, who survives.

Other survivors are children, Sandra (William) Hunter, Steve (Pam) Tenyak, all of St.Marys, Chris (Tom) Stroh, Union City, Tenn., David (Cheryl) Folk, Marion, Carol (Gregg) O'Connor, Winfield, Ill., Michael (Patti) Folk, St. Marys; a daughter-in-law, Peggy Folk, St.Marys; 23 grandchildren and 17 great-grandchildren.

Deceased are a son, James H. Folk, Jr.; a daughter, Suzanne Gaut; a son-in-law, Richard Gaut; and a sister, Betty (Ray) Work.

He was 1940 graduate of Memorial High School, St.Marys and a 1943 graduate of Cincinnati College of Mortuary Science. He was a veteran of the U.S. Navy, having served as a pharmacist mate 1st class from 1943 to 1946 in the European, African and Middle Eastern Theatres. In 1946, he joined John Vore to establish the Vore & Folk Funeral Home. In 1970, he merged with C. Richard Long to form the Yoder-Long & Folk Funeral Home in St.Marys, and later, the Heinl-Long & Folk Funeral Home in Wapakoneta. He was a member of the Holy Rosary Catholic Church, Knights of Columbus, St. Gaspar Del Buffalo 4th degree Knights, Fraternal Order of Eagles Lodge, Veterans of Foreign Wars and American Legion, all in St.Marys, the Idlewild Outing Club, and Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks Lodge, Lima. He served many years on the Auglaize County Board of Health and the Board of Directors of the Home Banking Co.

Funeral Mass is 10:30 a.m. Saturday at the church, the Rev. Anthony E. Cutcher, officiating. Burial, with graveside military rites, is at Gethsemane Cemetery, St.Marys.

Calling is 4-8 p.m. Friday at the Miller-Long & Folk Funeral Home, St.Marys.

Contributions can be made to Otterbein Retirement Community Benevolent Fund, Auglaize Co. Board of Developmental Disabilities, or the Parkinson's Foundation.

Condolences can be left at www. millerfuneralhomes.net.