Kenneth Folk, Jr.

Kenneth Steedly Folk, Jr. of Hoover, Alabama passed away on Saturday, June 18, 2022, at the age of 72. He was born on December 25, 1949, in Bartow, Florida to Kenneth Steedly Folk, Sr. and Marion Ann Durrance Folk. While growing up, he had the opportunity to live in St. Petersburg, FL; Clemson, SC; Corning, NY; Corinth, MS; and Orlando, Florida; where he graduated from Boone High School. In 1971 Ken earned a Bachelor of Science degree in physics at Duke University, where he was a member of Sigma Nu fraternity. He then served two years in the U.S. Army at Ft. Huachuca in Arizona. After completing his military service, he enrolled in graduate school at the University of Florida, where he met his future wife, Nancy Sturkie. He earned a Master of Science degree in Nuclear Engineering Sciences in December, 1974. After they married in January, 1975, they left for an adventure in San Jose, California where they worked for General Electric’s Nuclear Energy Division. After three years, they moved to Birmingham, Alabama, where he began a career with Southern Company that spanned more than 30 years. Before his retirement in 2009, Ken was Manager of Core Analysis in the Nuclear Fuel Department of Southern Nuclear Operating Company with responsibilities for Southern Company’s six nuclear units.

Ken was a loving and devoted father, who spent years coaching softball and basketball teams and being a tennis practice partner for his daughter. He developed a love for sailing, and he and Nancy spent many vacations sailing the Caribbean islands. He chose to retire early from Southern Nuclear to have more time for hunting, fishing, sailing, traveling with his loving wife, and enjoying beach time in Orange Beach with his family, friends, and especially grandchildren. Time with their grandsons became his top priority. He and Nancy even enjoyed being their virtual school coaches during the pandemic.

Left to cherish his memory are his devoted wife of 47 years, Nancy Folk; his daughter Julia Zimmerman and her husband Steven, grandsons Neal Zimmerman and Reed Zimmerman, all of Hoover, Alabama, and several nieces and nephews.

Ken was preceded in death by his mother and father, Ann Durrance Folk and Kenneth Steedly Folk, and his brother William Folk.

A funeral service is planned for June 28, 2022, in the chapel at Currie-Jefferson Funeral Home in Hoover, Alabama. Visitation will begin at 10:00 AM, followed by a service at 11:00 AM. Burial will be at 2:00 PM at Forrest Cemetery in Gadsden, Alabama. Donations in his memory may be made to the Shades Crest Baptist Church Building Fund at 452 Park Avenue, Hoover, AL 35226. http://shadescrest.org/