FOLIO, Meata, 101, Hopedale, Ohio's oldest living citizen, passed on into the arms of the Lord Jesus Christ on July 2, 2012, at his home.
He was born February 26, 1911, in Coalton, W.Va., the son of the late Frank and Teresa Folio.
Meata was one of eight children, all of whom preceded him in death: Father Frank (1931), Mother Teresa (1993); 5 brothers, Guy (1918), Louis (1949), Floyd & Patrick (1968), Victor (1982): 2 sisters, Mary Gregory (1944), Rose Gregory (1962).
He was a loving husband, father, grandfather and friend to many people.
He was raised in Grafton, W.Va., where he graduated from Grafton High School, Class of 1930. Meata was active in football and basketball for the Bearcats all four years. Meata and Andrew Pelegreen cheered many Hopedale ballgames together from the sidelines. In his younger years, he was the manager and team player on a Parlett, Ohio baseball team.
He was often seen working his 90 x 90 garden when he grew the family vegetables for 50 years. He was accomplished at woodworking. Many of his woodworking pieces are still used in his home today.
After graduation, he was an active member of the Civilian Conservation Corps in West Virginia as part of President Franklin D. Roosevelt's "New Deal." The recreation and infrastructure projects provided employment opportunities for men during the Great Depression. He was employed in the building of the Tygart Dam in Grafton.
Meata worked as a railroad laborer for the P&WV Railroad for 7 years; he was a shovel operator for 43 years for Waco Colliers, Nuri Coal Co., and Cravat Coal Co., from which he retired in 1979. He also was a butcher for John and Rose Gregory's grocery store in Hopedale for many years. After learning how to cut hair, he gave free haircuts to many relatives and friends.
He was an active member of the Sacred Heart Church in Hopedale for over 63 years, and a member of the Knights of Columbus. Among his activities at the church, he helped build the foundation for the church, and helped build the rectory. He had been a former member of the Hopedale Volunteer Fire Department.
With all these activities, Meata found time to meet and marry a young Jennie Topazio. They were married in the Sacred Heart Church on June 18, 1949 by Father John Priest.
He is survived by his wife of 63 years, Jennie Folio, two daughters, Cindy Folio of Columbus, Ohio and Judy (Dr. James) Beattie of Worthington, Ohio; and three sons, Christopher of Hopedale, Ohio, Michael of Columbus, Ohio, and Phillip of Ravenna, Ohio; four grandchildren, Alex and Nick Beattie, Isabella Folio, and Natalie Raabe; four nephews, Frank Gregory, Victor and Terry Folio, and Floyd Folio; and three nieces, Chickie Ross, Jackie Tipton, and Leslie Ann Folio, and many other relatives.
His family would like to thank Drs. Ralph Lach and George Ho and the staff at Mount Carmel West Hospital in Columbus, Ohio for all their lifesaving care to Meata. Locally, we would like to thank Dr. Prasad and Valley Hospice for all their loving care of our Dad.
Memorial contributions may be made to Sacred Heart Church, Hopedale Fire Department, or Valley Hospice of Steubenville.
Friends may call at the Blackburn Funeral Home at 324 High St. in Hopedale on Friday, July 16, 2012, from 2-4 and 7-9 p.m. with wake services at 3:45 p.m.
Funeral Liturgy with Mass will be at 11 a.m. on Saturday, July 7, 2012, at the Sacred Heat Church in Hopedale. The Rev. Timothy McGuire will officiate. Burial will follow at the Hopedale Cemetery.
