Extracted from The Tyler Morning Telegraph (Tyler, TX)
Saturday, October 24, 2015

Wilson Folden
(8/27/1931 - 10/22/2015)

Funeral services for Wilson Folden, age 84, of Jacksonville, are scheduled for 2 o'clock in the afternoon Sunday, October 25, 2015 at Central Baptist Church in Jacksonville with Rev. Steve Edwards and Rev. Dr. Darin Wood officiating. Interment will be at Meador Cemetery in Jacksonville. Services are under the direction of Autry Funeral Home in Jacksonville.

Mr. Folden passed away Thursday, October 22, 2015 in Jacksonville.

He was born August 27, 1931 in Monroe, Louisiana to Elmer Wilson and Marie Folden.

After moving from Monroe to Nacogdoches, Wilson participated in sports and One Act plays. He played football in the Tomato Bowl as a Nacogdoches Dragon against the Jacksonville Indians, not knowing he would be an Indian supporter in later years. Wilson served in the US Navy at Great Lakes, IL. and at Tripler Army Hospital in Hawaii as a Hospital Corpsman. He earned a B.S. degree in Chemistry from SFA where he had been a member of Sawyers. Before being employed at Nichols Industries in Jacksonville, the young couple had been blessed with the arrival of Cindy. Soon they were gifted with the births of Larry and Mindy.

Following 35 years of employment with Nichols in management, Wilson was employed by JISD for 14 years at the Joe Wright campus. He had previously taught in Lufkin. The family was involved in Little League Baseball with Wilson coaching the First National Bank team.

Deer hunting, water sports, and entertaining friends and family were favorite times. The Crestwood Neighborhood Club and Sunday school class often met at the family home on Lake Jacksonville where he enjoyed frying fish and grilling.

Having married at Fredonia Baptist Church in Nacogdoches, Wilson and Joyce were anticipating 64 years of marriage in December. He has been a member of the Central Baptist Church for 57 years where he served as a Deacon and past President of the Goodfellows Sunday school class. He was baptized at First Baptist Church in Monroe at an early age.

Seeing children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren and friends participate in sports and church activities meant so much to him. As they all say, he liked to keep them laughing as great memories were made.

He was preceded in death by his parents; granddaughter, Heather Folden; sister and brother-in-law, Dr. Jim and Kitty Plunkett.

Survivors include his beloved wife, Joyce Woodham Folden of Jacksonville; son, Larry Folden and wife Terri of Jacksonville; daughters, Cindy Guinn and husband Gary of Plano, Mindy Gellock and husband Ed of Jacksonville; brothers, Glynn Folden and wife Marie, Benny Folden, all of Monroe, LA; grandchildren, Barry Guinn and wife Lesley, Clint Guinn and wife Sheli, Brett Guinn, Lauren Earle and husband Ryan; great-grandchildren, Brooke, Jack, Colt, Alliann; and several nieces and nephews.

Pallbearers will be Barry Guinn, Clint Guinn, Brent Guinn, Cliff Adams, Ryan Earle, and Matt Montgomery.

Honorary pallbearers will be Roland Adams, Wyndel Cummins, John Thigpen, James Tennison and the Goodfellows Sunday school class.

Visitation will begin on Saturday, October 24, 2015 with family receiving friends from 4 o'clock to 6 o'clock in the evening at Autry Funeral Home in Jacksonville.