David Jack Rolston (Lebanon)'s Obituary
David Jackson “Jack” Rolston, son of David Jackson Rolston, Sr. and Gladys Dean Price Rolston, was born April 3, 1924, in Smithville, Missouri. He departed this life Thursday, May 6, 2010, in his home, in Lebanon, Missouri, at the age of eighty-six years, one month, and three days.
On September 8, 1955, he was united in marriage to Lillian Jewell Anderson, and they shared the last fifty-four years.
His parents preceded him in death.
David is survived by his loving wife, Lillian, of the home; two sons, Larry Dean Rolston, and David Joseph Rolston, both of Kansas City, Missouri; a grandson, Brett Rolston, of Overland Park, Kansas; two brothers-in-law, Gene Anderson, and his wife, JoAnn, of Detroit, Michigan, and Ed Anderson, of Lebanon, Missouri; four sisters-in-law, Juanita Collier, of Waynesville, Missouri, Isabelle Atterberry, of Plato, Missouri, Peggy Bowling, and her husband, Earl, and Judy Rubles, all of Lebanon, Missouri; a number of nieces and nephews; as well as a host other relatives and friends.
He was born and raised in the Smithville area and attended Smithville High School. After working as a truck driver for a short time, he entered the United States Navy, during World War II. David was aboard the U.S.S. Neosho-023 oil tanker when it was sunk and was one of sixty-eight men who survived the disaster. While trying to endure the next ten days at sea, all but four men perished. David was the last remaining survivor of that event in history. After being released from the Navy, David returned home to Smithville, where he married Lillian and continued to work as a truck driver for a transport company. Upon retiring from truck driving, he became a school bus driver for the Smithville R-III Schools, as he loved children. In 1994, he and Lillian moved to Lebanon, and made their home.
David had professed his faith in Christ and was a member of Ridgeley Christian Church, near Smithville.
In his spare time, David enjoyed tending to his lawn and caring for his car. He liked everything neat, clean and orderly, whether it was a carpentry tool, his lawn equipment, or his clothing.
David was a loving husband, father, grandfather, brother, and uncle, and was a caring neighbor and friend. We celebrate his life and his accomplishments and know that his family and friends will treasure the memories he made for them through the years.
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