Joe Mitchell Golden

Joe Mitchell Golden, aka, ‘Papa’, 78, of Inola, Oklahoma, passed away peacefully August 27, 2018. At his request, he will be cremated and there will be a small visitation service held at the Inola Funeral Home, 310 North Broadway on Thursday, August 30th from 10a-12p. A private interment of remains will follow next week at Sweeten Cemetery.

The son of Vera and Johnny Golden, Joe was born September 1, 1939 in Kosciusko, Mississippi. He graduated from DeKalb High School (MS) and attended college at East Mississippi Community College in Scooba, MS. On April 4, 1958, in a fairy tale scenario, he married the only love of his life, Martha “Mimi” Wilson. A union that lasted for 52 years until she was called home in 2010. In 1962, Papa and Mimi moved to Tulsa after Joe received a scholarship to play football for the University of Tulsa. They lived in Tulsa until 1973 when they moved to Inola to raise their sons, Joe Jr. and Kenneth. He enjoyed successful careers spanning more than 40 years with Wesche Company and then later with 5R Storage, both of Tulsa. He served in the Army National Guard from 1958-1964, reaching the rank of Staff Sergeant.

Papa had a hard-scrabble life throughout much of his youth, and even to this day, we do not know how hard he had it. That was Papa though, he never shared his pain or difficult times. If it was not for his legendary abilities as a football player, who knows where he might have ended up. The lore of his football prowess is legendary and still spoken of today in Mississippi. He was an inaugural member of the East Mississippi Colleges’ football Hall of Fame class of 2003, and played for the legendary coach Bull Sullivan, who according to the cover of Sports Illustrated was known as the ‘Toughest Coach Who Ever Lived’. Papa was the only player that Coach Sullivan never yelled at; because Papa was that good. Joe loved horses, and raising and racing paint horses for most of his life was his passion. He always dreamed of winning the big one. Of the many things that can be said about dad; there is one thing for sure, he knew how to work and survive. His work ethic and his ability to find a way to make money are as legendary his football prowess. As Mimi used to say “he would dig a hole and fill it up just to have something to do!” Always said with love, and wife’s special pride.

Papa is also well-known for his saying’s and stories; such as “they can’t run fast enough to kick up sand” (referring to a slow running back or horse); or, “put a lip on this and tell me what you think” (wanting you to taste something). Perhaps the ones everyone laughs the hardest at are the ones about him and his grandpa. The runaway buckboard wagon pulled by mules thru town; or, the time he cut his finger nearly off at age 10, and grandpa used a sweaty rag and kerosene to close it up. It never fails to bring a laugh when they are recounted. Papa may have appeared a big, country strong, John Wayne kind of person to those outside; his heart was always much, much bigger than he ever learned to show. He always kept his family housed and feed; something he never really could count on during his youth. That may have been one of the proudest things in his life. He sometimes seemed to think he came up just a little short in everything; just missing out. I’m not sure he did, just ask those whose lives’ he touched. He found the Lord later in life, and today he rests in the arms of the Lord.

He is preceded in death by his wife of Martha “Mimi” Golden, his parents, Vera and Johnny Golden; brothers Herman and William Golden, Panama City, FL. He is survived by two sons, Joe Jr. and wife Ronda of South Dakota, and Ken and wife Jeanna Golden of Choctaw, Oklahoma; his sister Linda, Panama City, brothers, Richard and Wayne of Panama City; and sister Jackie in Georgia. Seven grandchildren, Summer of Colorado, Nicole Petty of Claremore, Joe III, of Phenix City, AL; Taylor and Katherine of South Dakota; Brandon and Bailey of Choctaw; great-grandchildren, William IV and Jordyn Petty of Claremore; Kale of Colorado and Emma Faith of Phenix City, AL; and Sister-in-law, Rachel Woodfin of Scooba, MS.