Rev. Delmar “Del” Follis passed away on March 28, 2019 in Indianapolis, Indiana at the age of 88.
Del is survived by his children: Dan, Judy (McLinn) and Daren, and six grandchildren, Jacob Follis, Shawna Follis, Kristina Follis, Jordan Follis, Abigail Sears, and Chloe Follis. He is preceded in death by his wife, Dana (nee Johnson) and daughter, Brenda. Del was born on August 19, 1930 in Lucerne Kansas to Charlie and Ruth Follis (nee Crawford). He has two brothers, Norman and Darryl (dec.) and a sister, Eula Forgione.
Del grew up on a Northwestern Kansas farm outside of Hoxie during the Dust Bowl and the Great Depression. Del graduated Jennings High School in 1948, then earned a BA in Bible Studies in 1955 from Manhattan Bible College, Manhattan Kansas, where he met Dana Johnson of Wichita, Kansas. They were married in 1953. Del was the first minister of and helped found Westlink Christian Church in Wichita, Kansas. After moving to Indiana in 1964, Del attended the Christian Theological Seminary in Indianapolis and served on the board of the Alexander Christian Foundation. He served as the minister at Windfall Christian Church, Cyntheanne Christian Church, Trafalgar Christian Church, Burnsville Christian Church and later in life he pastored at many rural Christian churches across the state. Recently Del has been attending East 91st Street Christian Church in Indianapolis.
Del fulfilled a lifelong dream when he was selected as the director of Camp Allendale in Trafalgar, Indiana. Later, he started and ran his own summer camp, Brown County Camp in Morgantown, Indiana. In retirement Del was a major contributor and mentor to his sons’ real estate business.
Del was a life-long thinker and learner, a sports fan, and a hard worker who remained physically active until his passing. Del was well known as a great story teller and for his love of a good joke.
Funeral services will be Friday April 5, 2019 at Indiana Funeral Care, 8151 Allisonville Road, Indianapolis, Indiana 46250, (317) 636-6464, IndianaFuneralCare.com. Visitation will start at 1:00 PM. The service will begin at 2:00 PM, followed by a graveside committal at Carmel Cemetery, 951 Rangeline Road in Carmel, Indiana 46032. Flowers may be sent to the funeral home. Condolences may be mailed to Dan Follis, 133 W. Market Street #205, Indianapolis, IN 46204.
Darylee Flynn says
Dan, Judy and Daren, How quickly our lives pass. But I am thankful that I was a part of Darrel and Delmar’s family. You are part of this great family and I pray that you will be comforted with sweet memories and the beginning of a new life. Delmar was always a joy to be around and I’m looking forward to seeing him again. Love, Darylee
Randy Pim says
Dan, Judy and Daren,
Thank you for contacting me concerning your’s dads passing. I met him a few years ago at one of our Keenager’s Programs. Each time he attended I would take the opportunity to visti with him about the Camp Allendale of his time. He was always encouraging to me and had such a positive and endearing view of the Camp. I have been the Director since 2007, I know that I am enjoying the fruits of the hard labor of your dad and countless others who have come before me.
I am reminded of the poem by Forest Whitaker, ” One hundred years from now It won’t matter What kind of car I drove What kind of house I lived in How much money I had in the bank, Nor what my cloths looked like But The world may be a little better, Because, I was important In the life of a child.” Your father’s legacy is his family but so much larger than that. All the children that benefitted by his efforts here at Allendale and at Brown County Camp are his testimony.
Know that our Staff and Camp Board are praying for you during this time of loss.
Randy Pim, Executive Director Camp Allendale
Don Follis says
Del was my uncle, my father’s (Darrel) youngest brother. One of my earliest memories from childhood was being in a yellow brick church on a Sunday morning in Hoxie, Kansas, (rural Northwest Kansas) when uncle Del and aunt Dana came from Wichita and lead the music for children’s church. They were fun and energetic and I remember liking them a lot. Over the years I knew Del to be kind, loving and warm. On December 28, 2018, I brought my mom (Pat Follis) to Indianapolis, where we had lunch with Del. We talked for 2 hours, remembering the past and being grateful for each day. The world is in desperate need of kindness. Thankfully, this kind, gentle man did his part, leaving an indelible mark.