JOHN HENRY LOLLAR, III

11/30/1938 - 01/06/2023

John Henry Lollar, III crossed over peacefully to heaven, surrounded by his family on January 6, 2023, following a long battle with Parkinsonism.

John was born on November 30, 1938 in Cleveland, Ohio to John Henry Lollar,

Jr. and Mae Ruth Jerauld. A Texan at heart, John occasionally had to be reminded that despite his best wishes, he was technically a Yankee until his family moved to the Lone Star state in 1940. John attended River Oaks Elementary and The Kinkaid School until his 9th grade year, when his family moved to Oklahoma. John briefly attended Cassidy High School before persuading his father to enroll him where his heart really longed to be: alongside his buddies at the New Mexico Military Institute. John’s father granted his request under the condition he commit to staying through graduation which he honored, even after all those friends scattered to other schools the following year. After high school, John enrolled in the University of Oklahoma, pledging Phi Gamma Delta, and graduated in 1960 with a Bachelor of Science in Geology. With jobs in short supply and a country that needed him, John put his professional dreams on hold to serve his country, and enlisted in the Marine Corps. As fate would have it, John met the love of his life, Klinka Garrett, just two days before he began basic training at Quantico. Even in the early days of John and Klinka’s courtship, their devotion to one another was far stronger than the miles between them, and they married in our nation’s capital only seven months (and eleven dates) later on March 30, 1961.

After leaving Quantico, John was transferred to the nation’s largest Marine Corps base in California at Twentynine Palms. Surrounded by the desert sky and national parks at his doorstep, John’s love for adventure and nature flourished. After completing his service in the Marine Corps in 1963, John and Klinka returned to their beloved roots in Houston, where John began his career at the Shell Oil Corporation. An unshakable work ethic and devotion to family steeled this newly minted father as he juggled a demanding day job and attended night school at the University of Houston for his master’s degree in Business Administration. John’s next adventure began in 1965 when Shell transferred him to their New York City offices. With a wife, two young children, and an Irish setter in tow, John spent the next 4 years developing his skills in business and exploring the cultural treasures of New York City with his family. Initially traversing the bustling neighborhoods near John’s office, the Lollars found themselves drawn to a 3-bedroom gate house located on an old estate in Alpine,

NJ. Paying less than $200 a month in rent, John and Klinka found their version of “heaven on earth” right outside of NYC.

The gravitational pull to raise their children in Texas brought them home for good in 1969. That year, John became the Vice President and Chief Operating Officer at Gulf Resources and Chemical Corporation, and President of their subsidiary Pend Oreille Oil and Gas and BS&B. After Gulf Resources, John went on to have a successful career working with Transco Oil & Gas Exploration, Cabot Oil & Gas, and New Gulf Exploration. John was a member of Mid-Continent Oil &

Gas Association, Domestic Petroleum Council and AllAmerican Wildcatters. John also served on the boards of Lufkin Industries, Plains Exploration & Production, Inspectorate PLC, Memorial Hermann, The Museum of Natural Science, Juvenile Court Volunteers and The Boys and Girls Club of Houston.

In his personal life, John was a quiet gentleman who adored his wife and believed in living a life rooted in faith, family and integrity. He lived out his values far more than he talked about them; his life an unspoken prayer made visible through his actions. When he did talk, those around him stopped to listen intently, mainly because his words were measured, and they were always true. Gracious to each person he met, John seemed to live out the quiet motto “do unto others as you would want them to do unto you”.

John was never in a hurry, and never wanted to miss a thing. Some of his best memories were made skiing with his family in Park City, sailing the coast with TCYC friends, Christmas in Palmilla, picking up Jack, Carolyn & Kristen and later his granddaughters from school in his signature red 1968 Porsche, hunting and fishing with his father and brothersin-law, and after retirement, discovering a profound love for reading. He loved to travel and explore, always preferring a longer, meandering path to the straight or direct roads. John delighted in taking the road less traveled, always curious to explore the unexpected turns along the way. One of his wildest adventures was an invitation to sail to Cuba with his good friend, Morgan, AKA “Mugs” on his 27 ft. sailboat, “Reefer” (boat design/size and name were not mentioned during the invitation). Ten days later, despite their empty wallets, dock master stories, and wild weather, they somehow managed to make it home in one piece. Upon their arrival in Key West, John thanked his lucky stars to have his feet on dry land, and promptly abandoned Mugs to fend for himself.

John was preceded in death by his parents, Jerry and Jack Lollar, his two beloved sons, Anthony and Jack Lollar, his sister and brother-in-law, Jerry Lollar and Raymond Hill, and their children, Raymond Hill Jr., Jerry Hill Goodpasture and Verlinde Hill Doubleday.

He is survived by his adoring wife of 61 years, Klinka Garrett Lollar, his daughters, Carolyn Lollar Albán, Kristen Lollar McClain and husband Matthew McClain; his Goddaughter, who became his daughter, Sydney Lynn Richeda and husband Matthew Richeda. Grand children Isabella, Ellie, and Jacquelyn “Jigs” Albán, Lollar Grace and Annabelle McClain, Nicolas and Spencer Richeda.

The family is eternally grateful for the extraordinary care of Dr. Robert E. Jackson and John’s faithful, loving, and caring caregivers, Elsa Denton, Carlos Colón, Stephen Uzoma Obinna, Robert Cantu and Donald Dixon.

A celebration of his life will be held at St. Martin’s Episcopal Church on Thursday, January 19 at 2:00 pm following a private interment at Glenwood Cemetery. A reception at Bagby Hall at the church will follow the service. Those unable to attend the celebration may view a live stream at

https://stmartinsepiscopal.org/funerals/.

In Lieu of flowers, we hope you will consider making a donation to:

Share the Harvest Foundation - P.O. Box 603, Danbury, TX 77534.

The Hope and Healing Center, 717 Sage Road, Houston, TX 77056.

Houston Area Parkinson Society: online at hapsonline.org, or by mail - 2700 Southwest Fwy., Suite 300, Houston, TX 77098.