FAYETTEVILLE — Bob Folsom, the longtime Farmington teacher for whom the district's newest elementary school is named, died Sunday at Washington Regional Medical Center.
Folsom, 54, was a teacher in Farmington from 1984 to 2005, according to Randall G. Lynch Middle School Principal Carolyn Odom, his former principal.
"We're very sad to lose our good friend," Odom said. "He was a man of integrity, an excellent role model for both teachers and students."
Folsom spent his entire career at Farmington teaching fifth-grade science and social studies.
"He deeply loved teaching and the subject of American history," Odom said. "He was an avid storyteller."
"When he got the job in Farmington, we started teaching fifth grade together," Farmington teacher Lori Blew said. "He just met the needs of all kids better than anyone I ever met."
Bob Folsom Elementary was opened for the 2008-2009 school year and is located at 230 S. Grace Lane. His name was voted on by district teachers and approved by the school board.
Odom said Folsom's name was submitted by some of his former students who were in high school at the time.
Many people in the community have fond memories of him as a teacher, Superintendent Ron Wright said.
"He made kids feel good about learning," Wright said.
"For many kids, he was a male role model that maybe they didn't have at home," Blew said.
Odom said her son had Folsom as a teacher in science one year when he got a grant to set up a weather station at the school. He made learning about the weather very enjoyable for the students, she said, and her son went through a phase where he was fascinated by storms.
"He was bound and determined to be a storm chaser," Odom said.
Folsom's wife, Joey, also works in education. She serves as the principal of Butterfield Trail Elementary Fayetteville.
His son, Rusty Folsom, of Fayetteville, teaches first grade at Root Elementary School in Fayetteville.
Folsom also had three daughters, Amber Walker and Nell Sisco, both of Fayetteville, and Tabitha Christensen, of Sheboygan Falls, Wis. Christensen is a former Farmington teacher, Wright said.
A service will be held at 4 p.m. Wednesday at University Baptist Church in Fayetteville, according to Moore's Funeral Chapel. Visitation will be 5-7 p.m. today at the church.
Folsom was born March 14, 1955, in the Panama Canal Zone to James Rayford and Veva Sasse Folsom. He received a bachelor's degree from the University of Arkansas before working as a teacher.
Academics, Pages 6 on 10/06/2009