Joanne Goulden Wilson
1930-2019
Joanne Wilson was born in Marshall, TX on May 15, 1930, the firstborn of Joe and Lecta Goulden. Her youngest sister, Marinel had severe developmental disabilities which helped to shape Joanne’s sensitive, compassionate heart. She is survived by a brother, Joseph C. Goulden of Washington, DC, and a sister, Peggy McLane of Dallas, TX.
Joanne graduated from Marshall High School and attended East Texas Baptist College. She chose marriage to a young airman over her education. She married Reagon W. Wilson, on Christmas Eve 1948. The couple recently celebrated their 70th Anniversary.
During the first twenty-two years of marriage Joanne followed Reagon to more than a dozen duty stations on three continents and across the country. In 1957 she made the commitment to follow Christ wherever they went.
In Tachikawa, Japan, Reagon began taking his turn on a preaching rotation for a small congregation meeting on base. Suddenly, Joanne unexpectedly found herself in the role of a “preacher’s wife.” Whether Reagon was preaching part time or full time, Joanne was fully engaged in her own personal ministry, focusing on young wives and mothers.
After retiring from the USAF the couple served two churches in Louisiana before moving to Edmond in 1974 to work at OCU. Joanne served as a work-studies coordinator.
Despite countless moves, Joanne spent more than half her life here. They were members of the Edmond Church of Christ from 1974-1995. Reagon served as an elder during much of that time. From 1996-2010 they lived in NW OKC and worshipped with the Cherokee Hills Church of Christ. They returned to Edmond in 2011 when they moved into assisted living at Tealridge.
Joanne is the mother of three: Vonda Higgins of Amber, OK; Reagon, Jr. of Tinton Falls, NJ; and Ward of St. Louis, MO. She also regarded a developmentally disabled foster child, Bobbie Jean of Victorville, CA among her children. She leaves behind nine grandchildren, nineteen great, and three great-great grands.
Visitation will be held from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m., Friday, May 17th at Matthews Funeral Home. Services will be held at 10:00 a.m., Saturday, May 18, 2019 at Edmond Church of Christ with interment to follow at Memorial Park Cemetery.
I extend my condolences to the family. May there be any happy memories to look back on in the days ahead. May you find comfort in the hope that God gives . It is located in His Beautiful words at Psalms 24:15. Also, another beautiful promise to look forward to is written in the words at Revelation 21:3-4. There we are given the hope that soon God will wipe away all of our tears from our eyes, because even death will be no more.