Deacon William Theodore Folkes

Friday, Jan. 27, 2017

Dec. 14, 1938 – Jan. 18, 2017

Deacon William Theodore Folkes, 79, went to his special room in his father’s house on Jan. 18, 2017 at his home in St. George. 

He was born in Jackson, Miss. on Dec. 14, 1938 to Albert II and Pauline Burnett Folkes. He was raised in Ogden, where he attended elementary and high school. He joined the Army in Jan. 23, 1959. In 1979, he went to work at the State Training School, where he met his wife, Lydia. The couple was married for 39 and a half years.

He was a graduate of the University of Utah in social work, and had an master’s of business administration from the University of Phoenix.

Willie loved his church; he was a fourth Degree Knight of Columbus and was ordained a deacon in 2004 at the Cathedral of the Madeleine. He served at St. Peter Parish in American Fork, and transferred to St. George Parish, where he did hospital and funeral ministry.

He leaves behind his wife, Lydia Lily Archuleta; his two sons, Rogerio Albert and Ryan Christopher; two sons and two daughters by his first wife: David Zackery, Willie T. Jr., Tonya Jackson and Letha White; seven grandchildren, seven great-grandchildren and a brother, Albert Folkes lll.

A funeral Mass took place Jan. 23 at St. Peter Parish.