Joe Mirt Barksdale

Joe Mirt Barksdale, a beloved husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather, passed away peacefully on the afternoon of June 16, 2026, at the age of 94 after several months of battling cancer and other serious health issues. He was a stoic, strong-willed man who was friendly to just about everyone he met and had a softer heart than many people realized.

Joe was born in 1931 in Tuscaloosa County, Alabama, to Lee Pruitt Barksdale and Julia Pigeon (Cox) Barksdale. He was preceded in death by his wife, Joyce; his sons Randy, Ronnie, and Robin; and his brother, Lee. He is survived by his son Jeff and his wife Lori; grandchildren Graham, Chris, Brandon, Shane, and Katie; and five great-grandchildren.

Joe spent most of his childhood in Alabama during the Great Depression, a difficult time that lingered in the South well into his pre-teen years. With jobs scarce and money tight, his family moved frequently between Tuscaloosa and Birmingham, with a brief stay in Atlanta. When Joe was just 10 years old, his father passed away. His mother later acquired and operated a small general store in Tuscaloosa, where Joe lived until completing college.

A gifted athlete, Joe excelled in football, basketball, baseball, and track. He was the star of his high school football team, helping lead them to an Alabama state championship, and was also the league’s leading scorer in basketball. His accomplishments frequently appeared in the local sports pages, and he remained proud of them throughout his life.

Joe often joked that he was never much of a student, but he was especially proud of being recognized by the State for never missing a day of school or arriving late. Despite his modest view of his academic abilities, he attended the University of Alabama, where he earned a master’s degree in geology.

While in college, Joe met Joyce Mitchell, the love of his life. They married in 1955 and welcomed their first child in 1957. A year later, following in the footsteps of other extended family members, they moved across the country to Southern California to begin a new chapter together.

Joe went to work for Kaiser Steel in Fontana, eventually becoming lead foreman of the blast furnace. In 1961, he and Joyce purchased their first and only home in Ontario, where he would live for the rest of his life. He spent a total of 25 years at Kaiser Steel—a job he didn’t particularly enjoy but one that provided the stability, security, and comfort for his family that he rarely had growing up.

After the steel plant closed in 1983, Joe and Joyce opened an antique store in Upland. Joyce managed the business while Joe restored and recreated antique furniture for sale. It was one of the happiest periods of his life, combining his craftsmanship with the opportunity to work alongside his wife. The business thrived for many years until they closed it to spend more time with their children and grandchildren.

Joe endured tremendous loss in his later years. In 2017, he lost his youngest son. Joyce passed away in 2021, followed by the deaths of two more sons in the years that followed.

Two passions defined much of Joe’s life: Alabama football and woodworking. Although woodworking cost him a thumb, that never diminished his enthusiasm for it. Armed mostly with second-rate tools and long before online tutorials existed, he taught himself through trial and error and ultimately became a true craftsman. Patience, determination, and persistence were the keys to his success.

Joe took great pride in being able to fix just about anything. He often said that there wasn’t a single part of his home that he hadn’t repaired, rebuilt, or improved during the 65 years he lived there. In his final years, one of his greatest frustrations was no longer being able to serve as the handyman he had always been.

Joe’s life was marked by hard work, perseverance, devotion to his family, and quiet strength. He was deeply loved and will be greatly missed by all who knew him.

In lieu of flowers, please consider showing your support by donating in Joe’s name to Salem Christian Homes, 6921 Edison Ave., Chino, CA 91710, or online at https://www.salemchristianhomes.org/donate.