The Auxiliary of McCullough-Hyde Memorial Hospital has named Earl and Dotty Folker as its honorary chairs for the 2012 Memory Tree Celebration. The Folkers are being honored for their significant contributions to the hospital and the community.

Earl and his wife, the former Dotty Taylor, grew up in Oxford and graduated from McGuffey High School and Miami University. After his Miami graduation, Earl served in the Army Medical Corps personnel offices from 1952-54 and then completed an M.B.A. at Indiana University in 1955.

Earl and Dotty were married in January 1955 after Dotty completed her degree in education at Miami. Earl worked at U.S. Plywood-Champion Papers in Hamilton before joining the Miami University Finance and Business Affairs staff in 1968. He served as Director of Business Affairs from 1972 until his retirement in 1993. Dotty returned to teaching after raising their children, serving as an educational tutor at both Kramer and Stewart Schools for a number of years.

The Folkers are well known in Oxford for their many years of volunteer service in the community. With more than 4,500 hours of volunteer service, Dotty has given a great deal of her time to McCullough-Hyde. Starting in the early 1960s, she has volunteered in the Medical Records Department and the courtesy desk, and for more than 20 years delivered Meals on Wheels. Dotty served on the hospital’s Board of Trustees from 1986-96.

Dotty served on the Oxford TRI Board of Trustees and the Miami Alumni Council. Earl served twice on the Oxford Village Council in the 1960s. He is a former member of the Board of Directors of the Oxford Community Improvement Corporation, the Oxford Chamber of Commerce Board, the Oxford United Appeal Board and the campaign chair for Oxford Community Chest.

Earl and Dotty have been involved with numerous other Oxford civic organizations and service to the Oxford United Methodist Church. Dotty received the Oxford Citizen of the Years Award in 1994. They were named Miami Parents of the Year in 1984.

The Folkers are the parents of Jennifer Crawford who is married to David Crawford and lives in Fenton, Mich., and Jeffrey Folker, who is married to Julie Curry and lives in Lake Forest, Ill. The Folkers have five grandchildren.

A mailing to the community will be sent in mid-October inviting donations to the Memory Tree in honor or memory of loved ones. A gift of $10 per honoree will add those names to the scrolls that will be placed next to the Memory Tree in the hospital lobby over the holiday season.

In order for names to appear on the scrolls in time for the tree-lighting ceremony in December, the Auxiliary must receive donations by Nov. 21. Contributions may be sent to MHMH Auxiliary, 110 N. Poplar Street, Oxford, OH 45056. Donors should include a list of the name or names of those to be honored and remembered.

The Memory Tree Celebration and lighting of the tree will take place at 4 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 2, in the hospital lobby at when the Auxiliary pays tribute to the Folkers and to all those remembered and honored by contributions to the Memory Tree. All contributions received will be used to award Auxiliary scholarships to students pursuing degrees in nursing.