Obituaries

Joseph Lee Robertson

Photo of Joseph Lee Robertson
Joseph Lee Robertson, 95, long time resident of Bartlesville, OK, passed away peacefully on May 23, 2011, after a short illness. He was born on October 31, 1915 in Kansas City, Missouri. He was the son of the late Frank Leslie Robertson and Mary Bernice Harlan Robertson. He graduated from Kansas University and went to work for Phillips Petroleum Company as a chemical engineer. While in college, he was a member of Kappa Sigma fraternity. He worked for Phillips for over 35 years specializing as a paint engineer. He spent World War II as an expediter for Phillips rubber plant construction which eliminated him from being considered for enlistment in any of the services. When he tried to enlist he was always told "Your company and country needs you working as you are, because we need tires for plains, trucks and jeeps!" Joe was involved in Bartlesville Little Theatre Guild with his wife, Fiskie Robertson. He built many of the sets for the plays and musicals, provided a prop and scene storage facility and also took most of the publicity photos. He was also a warden at St. Luke's Episcopal Church. Photography was a passion of his and he had his own darkroom and studio setup. He produced a family photo Christmas card for 52 years. In retirement, he and Fiskie spent long summers in Kennebunk, Maine. They would travel to see all the local theatrical productions and travel to New York City, seeing the most recent Broadway productions. He spent time maintaining the family house and dock in Kennebunk as well as enjoying fishing and boating. In the late 1990's, he moved into Sterling House Assisted Living in Bartlesville. When his health began to fail recently, he was moved to Elmcroft Assisted Living in North Little Rock, Arkansas to be closer to his son. Joe was predeceased by his wife of 52 years, Mary Helen Fiske Robertson. He leaves a son, John Frost Robertson (Rosalee Blain) of North Little Rock; a daughter Jane Robertson Treubig (Glenn) of Nyack, N.Y. and four grandchildren, Garett Robertson, Kristen Robertson Kjellberg (Henri), John Robertson and Emily Treubig Ilowit (Mica). He also leaves his long time close friend Jo Oertle of Bartlesville, Okla. Burial will be private. Arrangements by Bibber Memorial Chapel, Kennebunk, Maine. Local arrangements by North Little Rock Funeral Home, 1921 Main, 758-1170. Online obituary at www.nlrfh.com.

Published May 24, 2011

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