Jack Wardlaw

Jack Lee Wardlaw, 80, of Fort Worth, went home to be with the Lord Friday, May 1, 2020, after battling cancer.

Graveside service: 11:00 a.m., Friday, May 8, 2020 at Greenwood Memorial Park, 3100 White Settlement Road, Fort Worth 76107. Open visitation: 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., Thursday at Winscott Road Funeral Home, 1001 Winscott Road, Benbrook 76126.

Jack Lee was born with a twin, Jan Dee Wardlaw, March 17, 1940, to Jack Wardlaw and Vivian Lee Compton Wardlaw in Arlington. Jan Dee died and was buried at Rosehill Cemetery. Jack Lee graduated Polytechnic High School in 1959, then attended North Texas State University. At six years of age he fell in love with the steel guitar. That started his life long love of music. At age eight he started guitar. At nine his five year old sister sang and they performed on the WBAP Radio. After that he played many Saturdays on the Bobby Peters Show and then went on to play on the Pat Boone "TEEN TIMES" Show. As he continued his music career, at 14 he played with Delbert McClinton, Ernie Winnet Band Cowtown Hoedown, a part of the Louisiana Hayride, Tex Ritter, Johnny Horton, Floyd Tillman, and Howard Crockett. While playing with the Polytechnic Jazz Stage Band, he recorded with Ronny Wade, Ernest Tub's nephew. In 1959, the Jazz Stage Band won State Championship and he received State Guitarist Award. While attending NTSU, he played in the One O'clock Jazz Lab. Jack played at the Peppermint Lounge in New York City and Jazz Metropole with Gene Krupa. In 1959, he cut records with Howard Crockett and a session with Chet Atkins. In 196l, he returned home and played six nights a week for ten years with the Jimmy Rovitto band. While working as a Draftsman for Paul Haberman, he would play on the Bronze M Show on KJIM Radio for all the famous who came to town. The most famous being the breakfast at the Texas Hotel Crystal Ballroom, for John F. Kennedy where he got to shake his hand before he went to Dallas on that awful day. He also played for Astronaut, Allan Bean after his return from the moon landing. Jack had his own band for several years. He quit playing professionally in 1990.

As well as extremely talented on guitar, bass, and steel guitar, he was an accomplished artist, painter, show card sign creator, avid model plane hobbiest/builder, and excellent Wholesale Liquor Sales Associate for 22 years, working for Glacier's Wholesale where he received countless awards and honors. He was full of talent and sales ability. Jack said "the best thing that ever happened in his life was the birth of his son, Jan Dee", who was named for Jack's twin.

Jack was preceded in death by his parents, Jack and Vivian Wardlaw, and brother-in-law, A. J. Fidler.

Survivors: Jack is survived by his son, Jan Dee Wardlaw; brothers, James Ariel Wardlaw and Patrick Gregory Wardlaw Sr.; sister, Nan Wardlaw Fidler; nephews, Greg and wife, Becky Wardlaw, and Sean H. and wife, Debbie Wardlaw; great niece, Audrey Ann Wardlaw; and many friends. He will be missed by many.

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