JOE SHELBY ROLSTON, III

February 21, 1932- July 7, 2021

Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

Joe's Obituary

Oklahoma City – Joe S. Rolston III peacefully completed his life journey on July 7, 2021, in Oklahoma City, after living a full and impactful life. Joe was born on February 21, 1932, in Burlington, KS. His family eventually moved to Oklahoma City, where he graduated from Classen High School in 1950. After high school and serving in the Air Force a short time during the Korean Conflict, Joe attended Oklahoma A&M College (now Oklahoma State University), where he was a member of Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity and completed a Bachelor of Science in Business in 1955. He began his professional career in the Land Department with Cities Service Gas Company. He attended Oklahoma City University School of Law in the evenings while continuing to work full-time and graduated first in his class in 1962. He then joined the Law Firm of Elliott, Woodard & Meister and later became one of the partners under the firm name of Elliott, Woodard & Rolston. After the senior partners retired, the firm became Joe S. Rolston III, P.C. Joe specialized in real property and probate matters and achieved recognition among his peers in those areas with an AV rating from Martindale Hubbell. A highlight of his legal career was in 1973 when he appeared before the United States Supreme Court and obtained a successful judgement for his client. Joe loved the law and was proud of the fact that his wife, son, daughter-in-law, and son-in-law all joined him in the legal profession. In 2012, he received a 50-year membership award from the Oklahoma Bar Association and retired in 2017 after practicing law for 55 years.

Along with a successful career, Joe’s life was extremely full and blessed with family and friends. He met wife Shirley while working at Cities Service and they married on May 20, 1962. They had two children, son Joe IV, now deceased, and daughter Jenifer. Joe and his wife were avid golfers and supporters of Oklahoma State University. A man of great faith, Joe was a member of United Methodist Church of the Servant for almost 40 years. He served the church in a variety of ways, but his favorite act of service was passing the tithing baskets weekly.

Joe is survived by his wife of 59 years Shirley Rolston, daughter Jenifer Bartley and husband John, grandchildren Trent Bartley and Tara Bartley, and daughter-in-law Kim Rolston. He was preceded in death by his parents Joe S. Rolston Jr. and Velva Palmer Rolston, sister Colleen Kelly, brother Maynard Rolston, and son Joe S. Rolston IV. A memorial service for Joe S. Rolston III will be held at 11:00am on Monday, July 12 at Church of the Servant, 14343 N MacArthur Blvd, Oklahoma City, OK 73142. Dress is casual, NO TIES per his request. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to any of the following: Neighborhood Services Organization, 431 SW 11^th St, Oklahoma City, OK 73109, nsookc.org; OSU Foundation, 400 S Monroe St, Stillwater, OK 74074, osugiving.com; or The Servant Foundation, 14343 N MacArthur Blvd, Oklahoma City, OK 73142, servantokc.org/the-servant-foundation.