Barbara Jo Youngblood, age 79, of Frisco, Texas, and formerly of Texarkana, Arkansas, went to join our Lord and Savior on Monday, October 3, 2022. “Jo,” as she was affectionately known to her friends and family, was born on February 14, 1943, in Texarkana, Arkansas, to Willis C. (“Doggie”) Wilkins and Gladys Irene Wilkins (maiden name “Gates”). Jo was the youngest of the three Wilkins sisters, and she remained very close to her older sisters, Deanna and Jacquelyn (“Jackie”), throughout her life. Jo graduated from Arkansas High School in 1961, where she was a cheerleader and was voted most popular her senior year. In addition to her natural beauty, Jo had an infectious personality and a witty sense of humor that naturally drew people who loved being around her.
After graduation, Jo married her high school sweetheart, Larry Youngblood, and in 1966 Matthew Youngblood, who would be her only child, was born. Although Jo and Larry parted ways, Jo remained very close to the Youngblood family of Texarkana her entire life. Jo and Matt moved to Irving, Texas, to be close to her sister Jackie in 1978, where Jo worked as a single mother to support her son at Oryx Energy Company until her retirement. She loved spending time with her friends and family, catching up on the Texarkana gossip, and caring for her beloved dachshund, Hochstein.
In later years, Jo moved from Irving to Frisco to be closer to her son Matt, his wife Melissa, and their two children, Bryce and Katelyn. Jo watched Bryce and Katelyn when they were young while Matt and Melissa were working, and developed a lifelong bond with her grandchildren. Soon, Jackie moved in with Jo, and together the two sisters enjoyed playing with the grandchildren, giving them sweets behind their parents back, and generally spoiling them rotten.
Jo is survived by her son, Matt Youngblood and his wife, Melissa Youngblood; grandchildren, Bryce and Katelyn Youngblood; niece, Jamie Billingsley Carson; and nephews, Mark Eakin and Jay Billingsley. Jo is preceded in death by her parents, Willis and Gladys Wilkins; sisters, Deanna Evans and Jacquelyn Wilkins.
A memorial service will be held at 1:00 p.m., Saturday, October 15, 2022, at Texarkana Funeral Home in Texarkana, Arkansas. Donations in Lieu of flowers may be made in Jo’s memory to the Alzheimer’s Foundation at www.alzfdn.org.