Dola (Dee) Harwell Rolwing

Dola Harwell (Dee) Rolwing, born November 1, 1936 in Friendship, Tennessee, passed away on Tuesday, July 1. 2025 at Norton Brownsboro Hospital. She was surrounded by her daughter, Julie, her granddaughter, Mallory and her caregiver, Angie. Dee was 89 years old. She was a loving mother to four children, a loving grandmother to three grandchildren and three great grandchildren. Dee was also a fanatical cat mom to her cat, Jake and a colony of feral cats that often lived in her backyard.

Dee retired from Derby Dinner Playhouse where she managed the gift shop for 16 years. From a small stand that sold roses and a few trinkets in the lobby, Dee transformed it into the magnificent profit center is today and was the driving force behind its success and the joy and wonder to all that shopped in it.

Before coming onboard with The Gift Shop, Dee handled Derby Dinner Playhouse’s advertising and public relations through her agency during the 70s. During the 70s and early 80s, Dee also handled the advertising and public relations for the Louisville Palace and numerous other entertainment venues. Through her tenure in P.R., she was responsible for accommodating numerous of mainstream celebrities performing at the various venues she represented. She was full of fascinating and often amusing stories. She will be greatly missed by all who knew her.

Dee was preceded in death by her father, Richard James (R.J.) Watson of Fayetteville, Arkansas, her mother, Dola Harwell Watson of Brinkley, Arkansas, her sister Patricia Ann Vaughn of Forest City, Arkansas, and her daughter, Lisa Harwell Whidden of Louisville, Kentucky.

Dee is survived by three children, E. Charles Rolwing, III (Annie) of Crete, Illinois, Julie Ann Rolwing of Louisville, Kentucky, Bradley Sanders Rolwing of West Palm Beach, Florida, three grandchildren, Ashley Hart Christian (Morgan) of West Palm Beach, Florida, Bradley Sanders Rolwing, Jr. (Nicole) of St. Augustine, Florida and Mallory Harwell Whidden of Louisville, Kentucky, three great grandchildren, Riley Hart Hogan, Ella Hudson Hogan and Ada Christian of West Palm Beach, Florida. She is also survived by her cat, Jake and two feral cats that she named Pepper and Lil Missy. She is also survived by her brother, Tom Watson (Marie) of Fayetteville, Arkansas.

Visitation will be Wednesday, July 9, 2025 from 10:00 am to 12:00 pm with a celebration of Dee’s life immediately after at Newcomer, East Louisville Chapel, 235 Juneau Drive, Louisville, KY 40243.

Memorials can be made in the form of donations to the Multiple Sclerosis Foundation, St. Jude Children’s Hospital or Alley Cat Advocates.