Joy (Templin) Rolen

Ruby J. “Joy” Rolen, age 93  of Chattanooga, passed away peacefully in her sleep on Friday,  July 12, 2019.

Joy grew up on family farm at foot of English Mountain near Newport,TN in pre World War II  depression years.  Truly a member of the “greatest generation” with independent values and according to friends, a serious can- do attitude.  She was known to have a lifelong love of both travel and sports having been married to Wade L Rolen, a World War II veteran.  In the late 1940’s and 1950’s, they lived in many US cities and abroad in Italy and Germany after the war.  Joy was a military wife and also taught elementary school.  They moved to Chattanooga when Wade Rolen left the military and went to work for Kayo Oil Company.  Kayo became the largest independent gasoline retailer in the US prior to being acquired by Conoco Phillips.  Mr. Rolen served as company Vice President until his death in 1974.

Joy was active as one of founding members of the original Meals on Wheels program in Chattanooga and member of both Central Baptist Church and in later years, Covenant Baptist Church, where she had many friends and started a senior adult program.  She was always involved in serving others and had a lifelong reputation of being the person that knew how to get things done… She always had a cheerful positive attitude and made a friend of most everyone she met.

Love of travel brought her to working as a tour consultant and travel escort for Student Tour groups.  She estimated to have taken over 100 tour groups to both New York and Washington DC. as a trip planner for the student tour company, Groups on Tour.  Until her early eighties, she was still escorting student tours, and genuinely loved being around young people.  A lifetime love of sports started early in life with one brother, James Templin, playing basketball both collegiately at Georgia Tech and in the early NBA years against many legends of the game.  A cousin, Scott Rolen, played for the St. Louis Cardinals and Philadelphia Phillies.  Their son, Larry, played basketball at the University of South Carolina and baseball for Coach Bobby Richardson at SC, former NY Yankees second baseman.  She and Wade had met Richardson when still in the military and he remained a lifelong family friend.   Paul Horning of the Green Bay Packers was a lifetime friend of Wade Rolen and close to the family. Her love of sports continued late into life when as a grandmother, she rarely missed ball games of her two grandchildren.  She could be seen many summer evenings sitting in a lounge chair along the first base line fence watching both Logan and Templin play ball, as well as sitting in Cameron Indoor Stadium in the summer watching grandson Logan at Duke’s basketball camp.   She even had a custom license plate for her car that said “Granny’s Taxi” that reflected her involvement with the grandkids.

Joy was truly a self sufficient individual that all of her friends called on when they needed advice or expertise in most any subject.  She valued the simple things in life, her faith, home, and family but had an adventuresome spirit that led her to travel, and try most anything new with confidence.  Most people who knew Joy would agree she was one of the most thoughtful and kind people they ever met… a truly selfless person that had a positive and uplifting influence on everyone.  Her strong Christian faith and belief in giving of herself to help others defined her entire life.  One more of the greatest generation has passed on and will be greatly missed

She was preceded in death by her husband, Wade Rolen; three sisters and two brothers.

Joy is survived by her son, Larry Rolen; granddaughter, Templin Rolen; great grandson, Kase Benton of Birmingham AL, and grandson, Logan Rolen of Cincinnati OH.

A private family burial will take place at Huff Cemetery in Cosby, TN.

Please visit www.heritagechattanooga.com to share words of comfort.

At Joy’s request, there will be no visitation at the funeral home.

Arrangements are by Heritage Funeral Home, 7454 East Brainerd Road, Chattanooga, TN 37421.

To send flowers to the family, please visit our floral store.