Earl D. Folker

FOLKER, Earl D. age 89, of Oxford, OH passed away peacefully on Sunday, April 28, 2019.  He was born on April 6, 1930 in Cincinnati, OH to Earl C. Folker and Margaret (DeWeese) Folker.  He is survived by his wife of 64 years, Dorothy (Taylor) Folker: daughter Jennifer (David) Crawford of Venice, FL; son, Jeff (Julie) Folker of Lake Forest, IL; granddaughters Megan (Nick Furlan) Crawford, Amy Crawford, and Lindsay Folker; grandsons Jason Folker and Jeremy Folker.  He was preceded in death by his parents, his stepmother Helen (Kelsey) Folker, his daughter Deborah Lynn Folker, and his brother William C. Folker. 

Earl grew up in Oxford and graduated from McGuffey High School in 1948, where he played football, basketball, and baseball, and Miami University in 1952, where he was a member of the Alpha Chapter of Phi Kappa Tau fraternity. After his graduation from Miami, he spent two years in the Army where he was stationed at Camp Pickett in Virginia, and then Fort Sam Houston in San Antonio, TX.   Following his military discharge, Earl returned to Oxford to marry his sweetheart, Dotty Taylor, and create another “Miami Merger.” The newlyweds then matriculated to Bloomington, IN where Earl earned his MBA from Indiana University in 1956. From there, the couple returned to Oxford and Earl started his professional career with Champion Paper in Hamilton, OH. After 12 years at Champion, Earl then began a 25-year stint as Miami’s Director of Business Affairs, retiring from that position in 1994.

As a proud, lifelong resident of Oxford, Earl was passionately engaged in the community throughout his life. He was a long-time member of the Oxford United Methodist Church where he worshipped regularly and served on numerous committees.  He was Chairman of the Oxford Community Chest campaign in 1958, and elected as President of the Oxford Country Club in 1960. He also served as President of the Oxford Lion’s Club in 1960.  In 1962, Earl was appointed to fill an unexpired term on the Oxford Village Council.  He was appointed to fill another unexpired term again in 1966.  In 1970, Earl served as Oxford’s United Appeal Director. In 1975, he was inducted into the Oxford Rotary Club and served as that organization’s President from 1996-97. Later in life, Earl volunteered with “Meals on Wheels.”

Over the years, Earl received deserved recognition for his tireless and devoted work in support of the Oxford community, Phi Kappa Tau fraternity, and Miami University. He was awarded the Phi Kappa Tau “Phi Award” for his lengthy service to the Alpha Chapter. He and Dotty were selected as Miami “Parents of the Year” in 1984.  They were honored again in 2012 for their long-time volunteer and financial support of McCullough-Hyde Hospital.

Earl will be remembered for his quiet wisdom, his loyal friendships, his fair mindedness, his work ethic, and his love of his family, Miami sports, golf, and Cincinnati Reds baseball. He will be greatly missed by all who knew him!

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be sent to any of the following organizations in Earl’s memory: McCullough-Hyde Memorial Hospital Foundation, 110 N. Poplar St., Oxford, OH 45056 (https://www.trihealth.com/hospitals-and-practices/mccullough-hyde-memorial-hospital/foundation); Oxford United Methodist Church, 14 N. Poplar St., Oxford, OH 45056 (www.oumc.org); American Cancer Society (www.cancer.org).  A memorial service celebrating both Earl 's life will be held on Monday, July 1, 2019 at the Knolls of Oxford (6727 Contreras Rd., Oxford) beginning at 3:00 p.m.

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