John Bruce Jarboe

John B. Jarboe passed on to eternal rest with the Lord on May 1, 2022 after a long, courageous battle with cancer. John was born in Tulsa, Oklahoma on March 28, 1940 to Joseph R. and Mildred Maguire Jarboe. He was the youngest of three children, having two older sisters, Joan Marie and Mary Geraldine "Jerry" Jarboe who predeceased him. John attended Marquette Elementary School and Cascia Hall High School, graduating in 1958 and continuing his education at the University of Oklahoma. There he was a member of Sigma Chi Fraternity. He graduated with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in History in 1962. In the summer of 1960, John began his education in what would become a future career in his family's wholesale wine and spirits business, Jarboe Sales Company. For three months he toured wineries and distilleries across Europe, meeting with owners, vintners, and distillers, learning about their craft and products. It was an experience he considered a highlight of his life. In 1962, John enrolled at the University of Tulsa College of Law where he was Editor-In-Chief of the TU Law Journal, graduating first in his class and named Outstanding Law Student. While attending law school, John served as law clerk for the Honorable Allen C. Barrow He graduated in 1965 with his Juris Doctorate, and passed the Oklahoma Bar Examination, earning his license to practice law in Oklahoma. After graduation, John joined the U.S. Department of Justice in Washington D.C. as a participant in the Attorney General's Honor Program until 1966 when he was drafted into the Army. He entered as a Private First Class, at Fort Polk, Louisiana, where he served for two years and was awarded the Army Commendation Medal for Meritorious Service for his work in the Legal Department. While serving in the Army, John obtained his license to practice law in the State of Louisiana, passing the Louisiana Bar Exam (Napoleonic Code of Law). John was discharged from the Army in 1968 with the rank of Specialist Fifth Class. Upon returning to Tulsa, John ran for Oklahoma's First District, U.S. House of Representatives seat. He won the Democratic primary election, but lost the general election to the incumbent, Page Belcher. Following his Congressional race, John considered moving back to Washington, D.C., but decided to remain in Tulsa to practice law and become involved in Jarboe Sales Company. It was a wise decision, as he had the good fortune to meet his future wife, Sally Bauer, his lifelong love. They married in 1969 at Christ the King Catholic Church, where John and his family have been lifelong members. Their union was blessed with three wonderful children: John Bruce II "J.B.", Sarah Elizabeth, and Susanne Christine. In 1970, John started his own law firm, where he practiced until he closed his office in December of 2021. He was a member of Southern Hills Country Club and the Summit Club. In 1985, John was appointed General Counsel for the Catholic Diocese of Tulsa and Eastern Oklahoma, a position he held until 2016, serving (now) ArchBishop Eusebius J. Beltran, Bishop Edward J. Slattery, and Bishop David A. Konderla in legal matters involving the Diocese. John took special pride in incorporating Catholic Charities of Eastern Oklahoma, and helping it to grow and develop to its present ability to provide fourteen vital services to persons in need, regardless of race, color or religious affiliation. He was also a member of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem, a Catholic organization that supports the preservation of Christianity in the Holy Land. In 1971, John was appointed by Governor David Hall to serve on the Board of Regents at the University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma in Chickasha, then named the Oklahoma College of Liberal Arts. He served a seven-year term, part of that time as Chairman of the Board. He was also appointed to the Oklahoma Water Resources Board by Governor George Nigh, serving from 1979 to 1983. Upon the death of his father in 1980, John succeeded him as a Partner in Jarboe Sales Company, inheriting Wholesale Wine and Spirits License No. 7, reportedly the second wholesale license issued after prohibition ended in Oklahoma in 1959. He became active in the business with his partners, Louis Abraham, Jr. and Mark Carson. Working with Oklahoma Legislators, John and interested stakeholders were finally able, in 1985, to modernize Oklahoma's laws to allow the sale of liquor by the drink. Growing up, John worked summers on his father's cattle ranch near Nowata, Oklahoma, where he learned the cattle business, which included a feedlot and commission company in Kansas, as well as the ranch. Upon his father's death, he continued to operate the ranch while also practicing law and helping to manage Jarboe Sales Company. John loved auto racing. He was thrilled to race several laps around the Indianapolis 500 Motor Speedway track at speeds well over 100 miles per hour. He also raced at Hallett Motor Racing Circuit, and drove a NASCAR at Fontana Speedway in Fontana, California. John also had a passion for travel, which he often referred to as the best education available. His favorite trips were with Sally and the children to the wine regions of France and Italy, visiting vineyards and historic places, many of which he had visited in 1960. He also loved Ireland, where he and Sally made several trips to visit family and friends. John is survived by his wife, Sally; and their three children, John Bruce II "J.B." and his wife Carrie, their children John Bruce III "Jack" and Caroline; Sarah Jarboe Tucker and her husband Jefferey Tucker, their daughters Elisa and Leah; and Susanne Jarboe Pereira and her husband Charles Pereira, and their children Lauren, Charles Joseph "C.J." and Alexa. The family wants to extend special thanks to Sue, Betty, Elaina, Shayna, and the staff at Porta Caeli House, who all helped care for John during his final days. John was an exemplary son, husband, father, grandfather, and friend, who selflessly helped many people during his life. He was loved by family, friends, clients, and coworkers alike. He will be fondly remembered and deeply missed by all who knew him. Friends may honor John with donations to Catholic Charities of Eastern Oklahoma, P.O. Box 580460, Tulsa, OK, 74158, or to Porta Caeli House, 2440 N. Harvard Ave., Tulsa, OK , 74115. A Rosary Service for John will be held at 7 p.m., Thursday, May 5, at Christ the King Catholic Church, 1520 S. Rockford Avenue, in Tulsa. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 1:00 p.m., Friday, May 6, also at Christ the King Catholic Church, with a private family interment following at Calvary Cemetery. Fitzgerald Ivy Chapel, 918-585-1151

John Bruce Jarboe

March 28, 1940 - May 1, 2022