James Robert Bartlett

He leaves in joyous mourning his wife Linda Foster and her daughter Jennifer and spouse Thornton; and granddaughters Casey and Rebecca; and his children Rob, Jr. and spouse Terri; Judith; Kevin and spouse Elena; grandchildren Patia and spouse Baleigh; Germaine; John Francis; a great-grandson Robin; and more friends, colleagues and other lives he touched than can be counted.

Born May 31, 1930 in Bartlesville, Oklahoma, J. Robb was raised there and in Miami, Oklahoma and graduated from Miami High School, and attended Northeastern Oklahoma A&M Junior College before enlisting in the U.S. Army to serve in the Korean conflict. Upon his return, he settled in Miami with his first wife Eleanor to raise a family. His commitment to faith and community emerged, serving in many lay positions at the First United Methodist Church in Miami; as president of the Miami Jaycees; advisor for Boy Scouts of America Explorer Post 50 and in many other civic capacities. As a young man, he worked in banking and business sales in Miami, Grove, and Vinita, Oklahoma, until he received his true calling to enter the Christian ministry.

In 1970, he enrolled at Oklahoma City University and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree so that he could attend seminary at Boston University School of Theology, where he graduated with a divinity degree in 1975. His pastoral service began in the small towns of Moultonville, and South Tamworth, New Hampshire, while in seminary. As his seminary term was coming to a close, he chose to experience inner-city ministry in the Columbia Point Housing Project in Boston. Upon his return to Oklahoma to join the Oklahoma Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church, he realized his mission of encouraging spiritual growth and expression of faith in communities large and small across Oklahoma, including: Ardmore, Wewoka, Cromwell, Tulsa, Enid, Oklahoma City, Quinton, Eufaula, Muskogee, and Boise City. He also spent five years offering solace and structure to homeless families at The Ark Interfaith Family Shelter in Oklahoma City. He retired from the ministry in 1997, following Eleanor’s death, and returned to Oklahoma City, where he worked for several years at The Education and Employment Ministry (TEEM). He met Linda, fell in love again, and they were married in 1999. Together they have pursued a life of spiritual devotion, service and support to those in need, and traveled to discover the wonders of our world.

Donations may be made to your favorite charity in j robb’s memory.

A memorial service will be held at Church of the Servant, Chapel of the Cross, on Friday, August 5, at 11:00 a.m. followed by a reception.