James H. Folk Jr., 56, 1809 Fenway Court, St. Marys, died at 2 p.m. July 3, 2007, at his residence following an extended illness. Death was due to cancer.

He was born April 19, 1951, in Celina, to James H. and M. Jeanne Carey Folk. His father and stepmother, Marion, survive in St. Marys. On Feb. 14, 1998, he married Peggy Jo Brown-Hance, who survives.

Surviving are three sons, James H. III (Karri Anne), Cincinnati, Robert Hance, St. Marys, and Christopher (Brooke), Wapakoneta; three daughters, Erin (Joey) Spencer, Gahanna, Bridget Hance, Beavercreek, and Deanna Hance, Hilliard; two brothers, David (Cheryl), Marion, Michael (Patti), St. Marys; two sisters, Sandra (William) Hunter, St. Marys, and Suzanne Gaut, Kennesaw, Ga.; a stepbrother, Steve (Pam) Tenyak, St. Marys; two stepsisters, Chris (Tom) Stroh, Martin, Tenn., and Carol (Greg) O'Connor, Winfield, Ill.; parents-in-law, John and Elsie Brown, St. Marys, and five grandchildren.

Deceased is a brother-in-law, Richard Gaut.

He was employed in the product engineering department at Honda of America, Anna, and was a licensed embalmer and funeral director at Long & Folk Funeral Homes in Wapakoneta and St. Marys. He was a 1969 graduate of Memorial High School, St. Marys, Edison State Community College, Piqua, and the Cincinnati College of Mortuary Science and attended Bowling Green State University, Toledo. He was a member of Holy Rosary Catholic Church, Knights of Columbus Council 1492, both of St. Marys, and the St. Marys Outing Club (Idelwild).

Funeral Mass is 11 a.m. Saturday at the church. Burial is at Gethsemane Cemetery, St. Marys.

Calling is 2-4 and 6-8 p.m. Friday and 9:30-10:30 a.m. Saturday at Miller Funeral Home, St. Marys.

Contributions can be made to the Joint Township District Memorial Hospital Foundation, State of the Heart Home Health & Hospice or the OSU-James Cancer Hospital research department.

Condolences can be sent at www.millerfuneralhomes.net.

Arrangements were handled by Gunder-Hall & Folk Funeral Home Directors, Marion.