THE OKLAHOMA BAR JOURNAL 80 | MARCH 2026 Patrick Ralph Abitbol of Claremore died Jan. 4. He was born Nov. 10, 1956, in Casablanca, Morocco, and attended schools in Bradford, Pennsylvania. He graduated from Buffalo State University in 1974 and received his J.D. from the TU College of Law in 1980. Mr. Abitbol began his legal career as the assistant district attorney for Rogers, Mayes and Craig counties, a career that spanned 29 years. He also practiced law privately and served as the municipal judge for the cities of Verdigris and Catoosa. He retired in September 2025. Kenneth Dale Bodenhamer of Tulsa died Jan. 18. He was born April 14, 1934, in Bedford, Indiana. He received his J.D. from the O.W. Coburn School of Law in 1982. Linda Lou Donelson of Tahlequah died Feb. 25, 2025. She was born May 8, 1955, in Muskogee. Ms. Donelson graduated from Braggs High School as the valedictorian and earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Northeastern State University. She worked for a year as a teacher in Oklahoma before serving as the office manager for Tim Baker and the Willis Law Firm while getting her law degree. After receiving her J.D. from the TU College of Law in 1993, she worked for the Cherokee Nation. John William Doolin of Oklahoma City died Dec. 30, 2025. He was born May 28, 1947, in Indianapolis. He grew up in Alva and attended Culver Military Academy in Culver, Indiana. Mr. Doolin graduated from Northwestern Oklahoma State University and received his J.D. from the TU College of Law in 1972. He practiced law in Lawton, serving his community for 50 years. Mr. Doolin was a member of the OBA Board of Governors from 2002 to 2005. He also served as legal counsel for Cotton Electric Cooperative for 40 years. George Marvin Emerson of Edmond died Dec. 29, 2025. He was born March 9, 1964, in Oklahoma City. He was diagnosed with Hodgkin lymphoma at 19 years old, which he fought and defeated. He attended OU, where he was a member of the Phi Delta Theta fraternity, and received his J.D. from the OU College of Law in 1989. Mr. Emerson practiced at the law firm of Riggs, Abney, Neal, Turpen, Orbison & Lewis for more than 37 years. He handled bankruptcy cases in the Western District of Oklahoma and did probate and estate planning. In addition, he worked with the Oklahoma Insurance Department as outside counsel handling insurance company receiverships. Jay Barry Epperson of Tulsa died Dec. 15, 2025. He was born Aug. 7, 1938, in Tulsa. He grew up in Tulsa, attending Eliot Elementary School, Horace Mann Junior High School and Central High School, where he served as a class officer, lettered in football and graduated in 1956. He then attended Washington and Lee University, where he graduated with a degree in political science in 1960. In college, he was a member of the Phi Gamma Delta fraternity. He served in the U.S. Army for four years as an intelligence officer with extended assignments in Monterey, California, and Poitiers, France, during the Vietnam War. After his service, he received his J.D. from the TU College of Law in 1968. He practiced in the areas of estate planning and probate and served as a fellow of the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel. He represented an international trade association as general counsel and chairman of the Government Affairs Committee. Mr. Epperson was active in the Tulsa County Bar Association, serving as its president in 1983 and president of the Tulsa County Bar Foundation in 1984. He was also a member of the American Bar Association, the District of Columbia Bar and the U.S. Supreme Court Bar. He was a writer, co-authoring two biographies, one of which was nominated for a Pulitzer Prize. He also wrote business articles for frequent publication in trade journals. Sevier M. Fallis Jr. of Tulsa died Dec. 27, 2025. He was born Dec. 19, 1934, in Tulsa. He graduated from Rogers High School and received his J.D. from the TU College of Law. Mr. Fallis joined the U.S. Navy Reserve. He became a county prosecutor in 1960 and served as the first district attorney for Tulsa County from 1967 to 1981. He personally tried more than 150 felony jury trials. In 1981, after 14 years, he went into private practice. During the following 25 years, he practiced with law partners. In Memoriam
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