James Joseph Barlow's Obituary
James Joseph Barlow, age 81, of Tulsa, OK, passed away peacefully on June 12th, 2026.
James, or as most called him Jim, was born January 1st, 1945, in Brooklyn, NY, to parents Eugene and Lillian Barlow. In 1966 he joined the United States Marine Corps.
He served our country pridefully in the Vietnam war as a Crew Chief for a CH-37 Helicopter for 4 years active duty and 2 years in the reserves receiving an Honorable Discharge in 1972. He graduated from the University of Tulsa in 1978. He met the love of his life, Jeanette, in St. Louis and they wed October 5th, 1974, at the Newman Center at the University of Missouri. They soon moved to Tulsa to start their lives and quickly became a part of the Tulsa community. Jim spent 20+ years as a drafting teacher and coach at Broken Arrow Public Schools. He started his coaching career as a girls’ softball coach and then moved on to coach high school track and field, cross country, and the junior varsity football team. In 1980 their first child, Nicholas, was born and they welcomed their second, Jaymie, in 1983. His children remember him as a stubborn but extremely caring family man.
Jim was an avid sports fan and especially a TU football and basketball fan. You could always catch him and the family hanging out in the Alumni Tent before the games started. In addition to his teaching and coaching career, he also coached his son’s various sports teams from baseball, basketball, soccer, and football. Most of his children’s friends have fond memories of Coach Barlow and would often ask about him well into their adulthood lives. Jim also had a love for dogs and would spend hours of his time training and teaching them to run in agility competitions. He had a passion for rescuing dogs from the SPCA and Humane Society, in fact you would never catch him without at least one dog in the family, and normally more than one at a time.
His most favorite title of all was Grandpa to Lainey and Ellie. He always made sure the twins were stocked up with candy and stuffed animals. He loved babysitting them, with his daughter Jaymie, and taking the girls to local parks, TU football and basketball games, restaurants, and Chuck-E-Cheese! Underneath his tough exterior was a man that adored and cherished his family more than anything in the world. We know that he made it home to heaven to be with his bride, Jeanette, and he will continue to care for and watch out for his family from above.
James is survived by his son, Nicholas and wife Cheryl and twin granddaughters, Lainey and Ellie of Broken Arrow, OK, and his daughter Jaymie of Broken Arrow, OK; his sisters Marilyn and Patricia; many nephews and nieces; and numerous other relatives and friends. He was preceded in death by his wife of 45 years, Jeanette; his parents Eugene and Lillian; and his sister Jeanie.
A graveside ceremony is scheduled for July 31st, 2026, at 11:00am at Ft. Gibson National Cemetery, 1423 Cemetery Road, Ft. Gibson, OK 74434. He will be laid to rest alongside his wife. Father Jack Gleason will officiate the ceremony. All are welcome to join in the service.
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