Joseph Walter Barksdale, beloved son of Michael & Cathy and cherished brother of Angel, Jonathan and Matthew, was born on August 10, 1981, at Valley View Hospital in Ada, Oklahoma, and after a couple of days made the 40-mile trip with his mom and dad to the family home in Holdenville, where he would spend the formative years of his life.

Walt was the adventurous sort, and always in a hurry. Born with the notion that having both feet on the ground at once was a complete waste of time, from the beginning he approached everything in life head on and at full speed. He was a fearless toddler, eager to see what was out there in this great big world, climbing over just about anything in his path because going around would slow him down, and he had places to go and things to do.

He started Kindergarten at Heritage Schools in Holdenville, where it soon became clear that he was especially fond of the letter 'B'. He was a good student, sailing through his school years challenging his teachers and entertaining his fellow students. He graduated Heritage High School with the class of 1999, a class of two: Walt and his best friend, Ryan. Always interested in learning, Walt attended Seminole State College and East Central University in Ada, when he wasn't off to see what he could learn from some other venture.

Stacy Ulm was the love of his life, and Walt & Stacy were married on August 9, 2001, in Tecumseh, Oklahoma.

He was gone from home just a few days when three new sisters and a brother joined the family: Destiny, Desiree, Angela and Farren. In no time at all, Walt had charmed and teased them into considering him their favorite big brother, and in no time at all the family got used to hearing, "We like Walt best."

Walt was never half-hearted about anything, and excelled at anything he decided to do. At the time of his death he was working in the oilfield for Unit Drilling Company.  He was a skilled carpenter, he had a natural ability to understand the science of computers, he was an extremely talented drummer.

Walt loved to laugh. He was always looking for ways to make everybody laugh, and was always successful - mostly because we all loved to hear his laugh. He was very much a people person, and his friends were incredibly important to him; lifelong friends from childhood to new friends and all those in between, Walt sincerely loved them all and seemed to consider everyone he loved as family.

He was part of a close-knit and loving family, and was blessed to enjoy knowing his grandparents. His paternal grandfather was Virgil 'Booger' Barksdale and his maternal grandfather was Garland 'Pop' Carter. Walter was lucky to spend a lot of time with both of them before they passed away.

He is survived by his parents, Michael & Cathy Barksdale of Tecumseh; three brothers: Jonathan Barksdale and wife Stella, of Holdenville, Matt Barksdale and wife Kim, of Tecumseh, and Farren Watson, also of Tecumseh; four sisters: Angel Wilbourn and husband Scott, of Lindsay, Oklahoma, Destiny Watson, Desiree Watson, and Angela Watson, all of Tecumseh.

He was adored by ten nieces and nephews: Stephanie Wilbourn, Kurt Wilbourn, Benjamin Wilbourn and Mattie Wilbourn, all of Lindsay, Oklahoma; Aubree Barksdale, Andrea Barksdale, and Conner Barksdale, all of Tecumseh; Jessica Barksdale, Levi Barksdale, and Judah Barksdale, all of Holdenville;

He was profoundly loved by two grandmothers who he kept continually alternating somewhere between tender affection and intense irritation - his father's mother, Connie Barksdale of Rockport, Texas, and his mother's mother, Artie Carter of Holdenville; and a host of aunts, uncles, cousins, extended family, and numerous very close friends.

Walt never slowed down, and he left us too quickly, in an automobile accident at Blackwell, Oklahoma on Tuesday, March 15, 2011. He was 29 years old. He was an uncommon man, and dearly loved by so many, for so many different reasons. He will be forever missed, and we will all be forever grateful for the happiness he brought into our lives, and the memories he left behind for us to always treasure.

Funeral services will be held on Friday, March 18, 2:00 p.m. at the Apostolic Mission located at 740 West Highland in Shawnee, and Walt will be laid to rest in the Tecumseh Cemetery. Rev. Michael Barksdale, Rev. Rodney McDonald and Rev. L. D. Ellingsworth are the officiating ministers. Pallbearers are Kurt Wilbourn, Farren Watson, Butch Barksdale, Max Barksdale, Troy Ulm, Sean Barksdale, Allen Hawks and Jeremy Ball. Honorary pallbearers are Ryan Scott, Spencer Ulm, Brock Ulm, Guy Ulm, Nick Barksdale, Jeremy Barksdale, Thomas Barksdale, Adam Barksdale, Curtis Ball, James Miller and David Barksdale, Sr.