07/18/2016

Obituary for Russell M. Bolin

President and owner of The Bolin-Dierkes Funeral Home

Russell M. Bolin, 83, of Zanesville, longtime area funeral director, died at 10:54 A.M. on Friday, July 15, 2016, at Genesis Hospice-Morrison House.  He was born February 9, 1933, in Zanesville, a son of the late Kenneth O. and Bula Marie Smith Bolin. He was a 1951 Lash High School graduate, spent two years at Ohio University, and graduated from the Pittsburgh Institute of Mortuary Science. He joined his father, Kenneth O. Bolin, in the Mader-Peoples Funeral Home in 1951, and in 1964 they bought controlling interest and changed the name to Bolin Funeral Home.  In 2007, they changed the name to Bolin-Dierkes Funeral Home where Russ was President of the company until his death. He was a member of the Ohio Funeral Directors Association, National Funeral Directors’ Association, lifetime member of the Fraternal Order of Police Association Zane Lodge #16, LaFayette Lodge #79 F&AM, Amrou Grotto #45, Timber Run Grange, Ohio & the Muskingum County Farm Bureau. Russ was a proud member of the Kiwanis Club since 1956 and attended the club’s weekly meetings religiously since 1970 with 45 years of perfect attendance.  He served as President of the Kiwanis Club in 1978, and had received several honors from the club including the George F. Hixon Fellowship, President’s Award, and Kiwanian of the year.

He is survived by his wife of 62 years, Marie J. Welsh Bolin, whom he married June 27, 1954; two daughters, Pamela (Ron) Derry of Baltimore and Trudy (Mike) Matz of Zanesville; four grandchildren, Chad (Melissa) Derry, Brad (Kristina) Derry, Kelsey (Coleman) Forrestal, and Krista (Karl) Kroll; seven great grandchildren, Griffen, Cassidy, Hunter, Colten and Harper Derry, and Emma and Owen Forrestal; a brother-in-law Dr. Robert (Barbara White) Welsh of Zanesville; and several cousins.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his grandson, Kyle Sowers.

Friends and family may call from 12:00 P.M. to 4:00 P.M. on Monday, July 18, 2016, at the BOLIN-DIERKES FUNERAL HOME, 1271 BLUE AVENUE, ZANESVILLE, where funeral services will be held at 11:00 A.M. on Tuesday, July 19, 2016, with Chaplain Tim Patton officiating and Pastor Mitch Reed assisting.  He will be laid to rest at Zanesville Memorial Park Cemetery, Zanesville.

In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to The Animal Shelter Society: 1430 Newark Road, Zanesville, OH 43701; or to Genesis Hospice-Morrison House: 713 Forest Avenue, Zanesville, OH 43701.

To send a note of condolence, or to order flowers or comfort food: visit www.bolin-dierkesfuneralhome.com , follow us on Facebook, or call our professional staff at (740)452-4551.

Dignified and professional services were provided by the Bolin-Dierkes Funeral Home.