Mrs. DONALD (Ethel Ida Thoma) FOLSOM 1903-1996

HARRINGTON, THOMA, FOLSOM, MAYER, PALMER, CASTEN, MILLER, MALONE, MARKS, TYM

Posted By: Volunteer
Date: 5/27/2005 at 14:14:30

Mrs. DONALD (Ethel Ida Thoma) FOLSOM

Ethel Ida Folsom, daughter of John M. and Estella (Harrington) Thoma, was born November 4, 1903, at Postville, Iowa.

She passed away Monday, February 26, 1996, in her home following a lengthy illness. She had reached the age of 92 years, 3 months and 22 days.

Ethel was baptized on August 24, 1904 at St. Paul Lutheran Church, Postville, Iowa. Ethel was graduated from Postville High School in 1921 and attended Iowa State Teachers College in Cedar Falls for one year. Ethel was a member of the girls basketball team that won the state tournament during her high school years. She received her Normal Training Teaching Certificate and taught in the Woodland School, northwest of Postville and also at a school in Lansing. She was employed at Marshall Fields and a telephone company in Chicago. Ethel returned to Postville to work in her father's drug store.

On May 18, 1943, she was married to Donald (Steve) L. Folsom at Waukon, Iowa. Ethel was the cashier and manager of the Iris Theater in Postville. Later she became part owner, along with her husband, "Steve", of the Iris theater.

She is preceded in death by her parents and three sisters, Louise Mayer, Bertha Palmer and Hattie Casten.

Surviving are her husband, Donald, a daughter, Margaret (Malone) Miller of St. Louis, MO and a son, James J. Malone of Tucson, AZ; five grandchildren, Brenda Marks of Tucson, AZ, Gary Malone of Eagle Point, OR, Valerie Malone of Eagle Point, OR, Julia Tym of Chelmsford, England and Gregory Malone of Cedar Rapids, IA; seven great-grandchildren, Matthew, Jordan and Allyson Marks of Tucson, AZ; Alisha, Deana and Stephanie Malone of Eagle Point, OR and Leigh Anne Tym of Chelmsford, England.

Ethel was a member of St. Paul Lutheran Church in Postville. She had served as Chairman of the Allamakee County Republican Party and was a member of the American Legion Auxiliary.

Interment: Minert Cemetery, rural, Postville.

- source: Funeral handout from Schutte Funeral Service, Postville
- submitted by Sharyl Ferrall