James E. Goolsby

James Edward Goolsby was born in Steele, Arkansas to Virgil and Clara Goolsby. Known by his family and friends as Jim, he and his older siblings, Lorene and Travis, attended school in Chicken Gristle, Arkansas.

The family moved to Wichita in 1947 in search for better work opportunities. Jim attended Wichita North High School until the 10th grade when he left school to serve in the in the Marine Corps from 1954 to 1956 when he was honorably discharged. While serving, he spent his time in Korea on the DMZ line. Jim was a hard working and disciplined young man, while he was serving in the Marines, he obtained his GED High School Diploma.

After he was discharged, Jim met Sharon Kay Brown at the corner of Maple and Seneca in Wichita, Kanas, at a local drug store. They quickly fell in love and married on June 6, 1956. The young couple moved to Joplin, Missouri to work in the vehicle “Body & Fender” business. Not long after moving to Joplin, they welcomed their first child, daughter Kathy, in May of 1957. Second daughter, Jama followed in June of 1959, and in January of 1962, their son Danny completed their beautiful family.

In 1961, Jim and his loving wife Sharon, moved with their growing family back to Wichita. Working with his brother, Travis at Goolsby Plumbing, Jim saw the chance to branch out and start on his own. From Quality Plumbing, to Modern Plumbing and then, onto full mechanical / HVAC contracting with Goolsby Enterprises where he successfully owned and operated Goolsby Enterprises for the next 43 years. Jim always pushed himself to new frontiers, ever expanding his boundaries. Building his construction business, learning to fly planes, or racing go-karts.

Jim and Sharon loved to take their family on camping trips where they watched Jim race go-karts, which was a favorite past time of his. Jim had a great passion for automobiles; if he wasn’t teaching Sharon how to do a “valve job” on his 52 Mercury, he was buying and selling cars. He used this passion not only for his enjoyment, but also to keep food on the table, a roof over their heads, and the kids in college. Jim was an entrepreneur in every sense of the word. He saw opportunities in everything around him. From plumbing to commercial construction, to flipping homes before it was popular, to developing residential real estate, and family to rebuilding “perfect, except for…” cars that had been previously wrecked. He would later move into developing commercial real estate parcels, what he would call “wheeling, dealing, and dual-ing” with the City of Wichita over many properties.

Jim and Sharon, loved to travel. Later in life they shared that passion with their Grandchildren by taking them on yearly “Grandparents Trips”. They traveled to Orlando, Miami, Dallas, DC, St. Louis, Hawaii, New Orleans, Colorado, and Chicago. Jim and Sharon would use these trips as a chance to teach their grandchildren to appreciate other cultures by never missing an opportunity to visit local museums and eat the local cuisine.

Jim had a strong will and personality, but the daughters, daughter in law, and grand daughters, had the ability to wrap him around their fingers, where they had access to the soft part of his heart.Throughout their lives, Jim and Sharon fought and won many battles together. Jim fought with all his might with Sharon throughout her battle with cancer until her death in 2009. Jim later married Rosemary Mende in 2012. Jim and Rose spent the next few years traveling and investing in properties together.

Tough as nails and fiercely loved by his family, his example will live on for generations to come and we will miss him dearly. Jim is survived by his wife, Rose Goolsby, his children Kathy (Jerry) Younger,

Jama (Robert) Bales, and Danny (Laurie) Goolsby. His Grandchildren Meredith Wilson, Nick Esterline, Matt Goolsby, Shelby Miles, and Antonio Bales, and 6 Great Grandchildren.

A funeral service for James will be held Friday, December 23, 2022 at 1:00 PM at Resthaven Mortuary, 11800 West Highway 54, Wichita, KS 67209.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.ResthavenMortuary-Cemetery.com for the Goolsby family.