Roll Call Tribute

Jeter & Son - Cedar Hill Chapel obituary
332 Cedar Street
Cedar Hill, TX 75104
p: (972) 291-4500

Dr. J.B. Rochelle, III
April 14, 1928 - September 29, 2017

Dr. J.B. Rochelle III, in the arms of his wife and surrounded by family, passed away in the evening hours of September 29th, 2017. He was 89. He lived a rich and full life. He was a man of science, and a practicing physician for almost 60 years.

Born April 14th, 1928 to J.B. and Bessie Rochelle, he grew up primarily in Dallas and Texarkana. Upon graduating from Texas Senior High in Texarkana, he received an appointment to the US Naval Academy, but was unable to complete the academy due to health issues he developed following a high school football injury. While this was one of his greatest disappointments, it led him to many of his greatest joys: an education at Texas A&M, his medical career, his marriage to Gloria and the family he loved.

As a boy, he was mentored by Dr. Stuart Wallace, a physician who instilled a love of education and inspired him to study medicine. He majored in pre-med at Texas A&M University, where he was a member of the A&M Corp of Cadets, served as Commander of Battery C (Field Artillery), was President of the Pre-Med Society, and a member of the Debate Team. His senior year, he served as Commander of the Ross Volunteers, an organization of military distinction, whose purpose is to represent the administration, faculty and student body of Texas A&M University. He graduated in 1949, spent a summer in the Merchant Marines, and entered the University of Texas at Galveston Medical School in 1950. While in Galveston he met the love of his life, Gloria Van Keuteman, who was training to be an RN. Upon graduation from medical school, he settled into an internal medicine practice in Texarkana, raising five children with his wife Gloria. He practiced medicine in Texarkana for 45 years, and eventually became the founder and senior physician of Rochelle Medical Association. He also served on the Board of St Michael’s Hospital, and was President of the Texarkana School Board.

Following a series of health problems including a quadruple bypass, prostate cancer and a hip replacement, he closed his medical practice at the age of 70 and “retired”. Two years later, at the request of his dear friend, Dr. Jay Brown, he applied for a position at the Dallas VA Hospital and worked in the Department of Internal Medicine. There he served veterans and listened to their stories for the next decade. At age 82, he “retired” from the VA Hospital, eventually practicing part-time in a Dallas obesity clinic until the age of 86. His children, including those who followed him into the healthcare industry, expressed frequent amazement at their father’s natural medical talent whether he was seeing patients in his office or clearing a blocked airway in a busy restaurant. His main role in life was that of Doctor. He had a profound love for the practice of medicine and a gift for engaging and connecting with his patients. His sense of humor was legendary. He engaged them with his playful, continuous, and provocative conversation. From great-grandchildren to career nurses, he would never let a visit pass without both offering sage life advice and pushing whatever physical, emotional or political button he could find. He almost always left them with a joke. JB loved people and they loved him.

While he was an extraordinarily dedicated physician and public servant, he was equally dedicated to his family. Dr. Rochelle is survived by his wife of 64 years, Gloria Rochelle, their children Glenn Rochelle, Laura Rochelle Hughes, Marcia Rochelle Ashcraft, Annette Rochelle Patterson and Stuart Rochelle. He also leaves behind brother Jerry Rochelle and his wife Jane “Puddin” Rochelle of Texarkana, his sons in law Randy Ashcraft and Jeff Patterson, and daughter-in-law Lila Cannon Rochelle. He also leaves his beloved and devoted grandchildren: Hayden Rochelle, Price Rochelle, Mallory Rochelle, Brandon and Kim Hughes, Jeremy and Abbey Ashcraft, Maresa Patterson and Julia Cohen, Erin Patterson and JC Ferguson, Blair Patterson and Will Lulofs, Tyler and Beth Rochelle, and Carly Rochelle. He leaves his “firecracker” great-grandchildren: Jaxon, Ariel and Alexa Hughes, Landon Ashcraft, Eli “Mac” Patterson, Phillip “Pip” Cohen, Georgia and Evangeline Ferguson, Tanner and Avery Rochelle.

Visitation will be from 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM Tuesday October 3, 2017, with the Funeral Service at 11:00 AM; at Grace Church of Ovilla, 519 S. Westmoreland Rd., Ovilla, TX, 75154. Interment will follow at Little Bethel Cemetery in Duncanville.