William J. Folsom, 81


William Joseph "Bill" Folsom, 81, of Harrisonburg, died Thursday, Jan. 1, 2009, in a nursing home. He and his wife, Nan, relocated to Harrisonburg in October of 2007 after living in Waynesboro for many years.

Mr. Folsom was born April 29, 1927, in Caney, Okla., and was the son of the late Oscar and Blanche Folsom.

He served in the Army during World War II and the Korean Conflict as a sergeant in the Military Police. After his service in the Army, he attended and received an undergraduate degree from the University of Oklahoma. Then he worked as a Mechanical Engineer for General Electric for 26 years. He was also a proud member of the Choctaw Nation.

On June 19, 1952, he married Nan McFarland Folsom, who survives. He is preceded in death by a brother, Oscar Folsom.

He is also survived by children, Brent Folsom-Kovarik and wife, Christine, of New Jersey, Dr. Kent Folsom and wife, Karen, of Harrisonburg, Keith Folsom and wife, Tish, of Greenville, Va., and Lauran Folsom of West Virginia; 13 grandchildren; three brothers, James O. Folsom and wife, Stella, John B. Folsom and wife, Margie, C. Hagen Folsom and wife, Ruth Ann; a sister, Mary F. Kyle and husband, Ted; a sister-in-law, Laura Folsom; and a number of nieces and nephews.

Funeral services will be held at 4 p.m. on Sunday, Jan. 4, 2009, at the Harrisonburg Baptist Church with Dr. Jack Mercer and Joel Thornton officiating. The family will receive friends following the service. Interment will be held at the Riverview Cemetery in Waynesboro on Monday Jan. 5, 2009, at 10 a.m.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Harrisonburg Rescue Squad, P.O. Box 1477, Harrisonburg, VA 22801.

Online condolences may be sent to Mr. Folsom's family by visiting www.kygers.com.