John Robert Rebman

John Robert Rebman, beloved husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, the 21st of April 2026, in Houston, Texas at the age of 94. He loved and was deeply loved by a beautiful circle of family and friends.

John was born on the 31st of December 1931, in Grove, Oklahoma and graduated from Will Rogers High School in Tulsa and Oklahoma State University. He then served as an officer in the U. S. Army from 1953 till 1955 and was stationed in Iceland during the Korean War as an executive officer of the medical detachment of the 99th Battalion of the 74th Infantry regimental combat team. He subsequently attended the University of Texas School of Law where he was a member of the Editorial Board of the Texas Law Review and graduated in the top ten percent of his class in 1957.

John began his career in the law department of Phillips Petroleum in Amarillo, Texas and transferred to the Phillips headquarters in Bartlesville, Oklahoma in 1962. In 1970, he joined the Law Department of Humble Oil in the Natural Gas section where he made many lifelong friends. John was admitted to the practice of law in Texas, Oklahoma, New York, Connecticut and the District of Columbia. His career with Humble (later renamed Exxon) included successfully arguing the Southern Louisiana area rate case in the U.S. Supreme Court, serving as Associate General Counsel for Exxon USA, then General Counsel for Exxon’s worldwide chemical operations. He was tapped in 1989 to manage the Valdez oil spill litigation and retired in 1997 as Assistant General Counsel of Exxon USA. He was an active member of the American Bar Association, serving as chairman of the Section of Natural Resources, Energy and Environmental Law and as a Delegate to the ABA House of Delegates.

In 1989, John reconnected with a former co-worker’s widow, Gina Norris. They wed in 1990, lived in Anchorage for most of 1994, and began decades of love and adventures. In retirement he managed to achieve his goal of playing golf in all 50 states with Gina by his side, enjoyed weekly golf outings at Lakeside Country Club, and traveled to all seven continents.

John is preceded in death by his parents, Jack and Betty Rebman of Tulsa, sister Jill Rebman Martin, infant son John Mark Rebman, son Andrew Rebman and grandsons John Bradley Tyler and Danny Wayne Huggins, Jr.

Survivors include his cherished wife, Gina Rebman, his daughters Jennifer Rebman Tyler (John) and Kimberly Norris Huggins (Dan), and son Bob Norris (Laurie). He is also survived by his grandchildren Wade Huggins (Kristin), Kate Huggins Rampon (Garrett), Abigail Norris Davidson (Michael), Nicholas Tyler, Liam Norris (Isabel), Christopher Tyler (Samantha), and Austin Norris (Reese), and great granddaughter Coralie Rampon.

Special appreciation is extended to LaTrese Williams for her tender and devoted care of John during the last months.

A funeral service is to be offered at half past noon on Tuesday, the 28th of April, at Bering Drive Church of Christ, 1910 Bering Drive in Houston, where John’s grandson, Wade Huggins, is to officiate. Immediately following, all are invited to greet the family during a reception at a location to be announced at the service.

For those unable to attend, virtual attendance may be accessed by selecting the "Join Livestream" icon in the service section below.

Those honored to serve as pallbearers during Tuesday’s service are John’s grandsons; Nicholas Tyler, Christopher Tyler, Liam Norris, Austin Norris, Garrett Rampon and Michael Davidson. Honorary pallbearers are John’s sons John Tyler, Bob Norris and Dan Huggins.

In lieu of customary remembrances, memorial contributions in John’s honor may be directed to Lifeline Chaplaincy by visiting lifelinechaplaincy.org or visiting the link below under “Donations”.

We invite you to take a few moments to share memories and words of comfort and condolence with his family by selecting the “Add a Memory” icon below.