Barbara Folk

Barbara Folk was a true lady, who treated everyone around her with equal respect, consideration, and kindness. A teacher, a mother, and a grandmother, Barbara spent her life doing the most important of jobs: shaping the minds and hearts of the next generation. Barbara’s high principles, unshakeable poise, and generous spirit will live on in the hearts and memories of all those whose lives she touched, both as a cherished memory and as a source of inspiration in the years to come.

Barbara Ann was born in Muncie, Indiana on June 4, 1928 the first child of her proud parents Harry and Alice (Watson) Henman. Harry supported his growing family by working for General Motors, while Alice was a homemaker. In the years to come, Barbara became older sister to three brothers: Jerry, Tom, and Dick.

Studious and hardworking, Barbara aced her classes at Burris High School. After graduating in 1946, she went on to earn a degree in education from Ball State University. In addition to her studies, Barbara also worked part-time throughout high school and college.

While a student at Ball State, Barbara made the acquaintance of a young man named Carl Folk. Their first encounter didn’t go entirely smoothly – Carl’s studying was interrupted by Barbara who, despite being in a library, was chatting with a girlfriend. Carl’s irritated scowl turned into a smile, however, once he took a good look and realized how pretty Barbara was! In order to redeem himself, Carl offered Barbara a ride home. She declined, but not to be deterred Carl ascertained her phone number and jotted it down on the back of his hand. He called as soon as he could, and the rest is history. Barbara and Carl dated for the next several years, even though Carl’s studies took him to Indiana University. The happy couple was married on June 30, 1950, at College Avenue Methodist Church.

After the wedding, Barbara and Carl headed to South Bend, Indiana, where Barbara had a teaching job and Carl tested cars for the Studebaker Company. As the years went by, Barbara and Carl were blessed with three children, whom they named David, Jim, and Nancy. Barbara was a wonderful mother, firm but fair, who was always there to support her kids. While Barbara was expecting her third child, in 1957, the family moved from South Bend to Kalamazoo, Michigan. This was a tough move for Barbara, since she was used to being close to her extended family.

Once she and her family had settled into their new home, Barbara went back to school. She enrolled at Western Michigan University, where she would earn her master’s degree. Barbara was a charter member of the Kalamazoo Psi Iota Xi Sorority (a speech and hearing sorority), and was named a national and state officer of the group. Barbara eventually became a teacher at Winchell and Greenwood Elementary in Kalamazoo. More than just teaching reading, writing, and arithmetic, Barbara looked upon her students as her family. She often helped needy children, and many were the times that she mended coats and mittens for her students. Barbara was also very active in the community, and regularly volunteered for the Red Cross and the Psi Iota Xi Sorority. In 1992, Barbara was recognized by Governor John Engler as the Volunteer of the Year for the Kalamazoo County Chapter of the American Red Cross. On Sundays, Barbara and Carl attended services at the First United Methodist Church of Kalamazoo, where they were devoted members.

Once the kids had all left home, Barbara and Carl moved from Bronson Circle to a farm in Texas Township, fulfilling a lifelong dream of Carl’s. They lived on the farm for 12 years, and then built a contemporary home near Atwater Pond in Texas Township. Since 2004, Barbara has lived at Friendship Village. In her free time, Barbara enjoyed reading, knitting, playing with her grandchildren and enjoying friends and family.

After retiring, Barbara and Carl took advantage of their new found leisure to do some well-deserved travelling. In addition to spending their winters in Florida, the couple also made trips to Europe, the Panama Canal, and Australia. Closer to home, many of happiest moments of Barbara’s golden years were spent caring for her grandchildren.

Caring, principled, and kindhearted, Barbara was a devoted wife, a loving mother and grandmother, an exemplary teacher, and a loyal friend. She will be deeply missed and lovingly remembered by her many friends and family members.

Mrs. Barbara Folk died on May 20, 2013, at the age of 84. Barbara’s family includes her children, David and Holly Folk of Kalamazoo, James and Linda Folk of St. Joseph, and Nancy and Mike Howard of Scotts; her grandchildren, Steve (Tiffany) Folk of Clinton Twp, Chris Folk of Chicago, Harrison Folk of Kalamazoo, Lisa (Dan) Melnik of Scotts, Melanie Howard of Vicksburg, Susan (Bill) Wright of Three Rivers, Carl (Nikki) Howard of Schoolcraft; her great grandchildren, Allison Melnik, Jacob Melnik, and Mason Folk; her brothers, Tom (Dixie) Henman of Muncie and Dick (Pat) Henman of Muncie; and her brother-in-law, Robert Folk of South Bend, IN. She was preceded in death by her husband, Carl; and her brother, Jerry Henman.

The family will receive friends from 4 to 7 p.m. on Thursday, May 23, at Life Story Funeral Home, 5975 Lovers Lane, Portage (269-344-5600). A funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. on Friday, May 24, at the First Methodist Church of Kalamazoo, 212 South Park Street. In lieu of flowers, please make a memorial contribution to the American Red Cross of Kalamazoo, First United Methodist Church, and/or Great Lakes Caring Hospice. Please visit Barbara’s personal memory page at www.lifestorynet.com, where you can learn more about her life, share a favorite memory or photo, and sign the online guestbook.