Jane Wilson Rolston

Jane Irving Wilson Rolston, born June 9th, 1931, in Richmond, VA to William Irving Wilson and Gershon Allen Wilson. Jane graduated from Richmond Public Schools. Received a B.A. degree from Westhampton College of the University of Richmond. She received a master’s degree from the Presbyterian School of Christian Education.

She served as Director of Children’s Education at the Grace Covenant Presbyterian Church of Richmond for 15 months until her marriage to the love of her life, Holmes Rolston, III in 1956. They spent the next 2 years in Edinburgh, Scotland. While Holmes studied for a doctorate, Jane worked as a clerk (clark-British) in the Netherlands Consulate General.

Jane taught 4th grade in the Bristol, VA area schools and 3rd grade in Penn Hills, PA. Her husband’s work brought them to Fort Collins, CO so he could teach at Colorado State University. Jane spent 57 years in Fort Collins, CO. At First Presbyterian Church, Jane taught 1st grade church school for 13 years before serving as Director of Children’s Ministries for over 11 years. The last 4 of those years she also taught a weekday pre-kindergarten for 4-year-olds, many of whom she remained in contact with until her death.

She volunteered many years and hours at the First Presbyterian Church library and was very passionate about building it and adding books to share with others. She was part of a local P.E.O. Chapter for many years, as well as a few organizations for/through Colorado State University. In the late 1980s and 1990s, she helped get Latin into the local high schools.

Education of all kinds and developing/supporting a love for God in others was always important to her.

The phrase, ‘behind every successful man, there is a strong woman’ describes Jane well. She was Holmes’ rock, she ran his house, loved God with him, made wonderful meals, raised two kids, proofread many a manuscript, and did her best to instill her Southern Belle ways and manners in her children, and their friends, while hanging on to her southern accent until the very end. She showed her southern hospitality, always, by welcoming her neighbors, visitors, and friends with grace, kindness, and a gentle smile. She frequently offered anyone who visited her a cup of hot or cold tea, depending on the season.

Jane took her last breath April 19th, 2025, the morning before Easter. She died at home surrounded by her family. She would not want us to state her age (she never did).

She is preceded in death by her parents; her sister, Ann Wilson (William) Bryant; her husband, Holmes Rolston III; and her son, Giles Campbell Rolston. She is survived by her daughter, Shonny H. Rolston (John) Vander Vliet and their children, Rolston and Ellie Jane; and her grandson, Alex (Dallie) Pace.

The memorial service for Jane will be Friday, May 9th, at 2:00pm at First Presbyterian Church in Fort Collins, CO. A graveside will be later in May, in Staunton, VA, for both Jane and Holmes Rolston III.

MEMORIAL CONTRIBUTIONS:

~PEO-portal.com/donations: tips: SKIP the “PEO Chapter” box in the form and when get to the box for ‘Direct Gift to’ please pick the “P.E.O. Foundation”.

~The Kellermann Foundation

P.O. Box 832809, Richardson, TX 75083

https://www.kellermannfoundation.org/ddonate

~First Presbyterian Church

531 S. College Avenue, Fort Collins, CO 80524

https:// firstpresfc.org/giving/