Joe was born December 8,1932 in Elmore City, Oklahoma to John and Ruth (Colburn) Judkins. His father helped deliver Joe and his twin brother, Joel. Joe survived that blizzardous winter. He was raised throughout Oklahoma. As a young man, Joe loved fishing and being with his family. He was the youngest boy of twelve children. Joe attended schools in Choctaw and Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. He excelled in Math and Printing. Joe graduated from Capitol Hill High School in 1952, in which he was very proud of his accomplishments.

In 1952, Joe was drafted into the U.S. Navy. He served his country proudly during the Korean War, where he was a fireman and a boiler attendant on the destroyer, USS Bradford. After nearly 4 years of service to his country, Joe was honorably discharged in 1956. Following his military service, Joe began his career in the printing business.

In 1961, Joe met Marjorie Frederick, while working together in Oklahoma City. Margie and Joe married on April 7, 1962 in Gainesville, Texas. They lived throughout Oklahoma before settling in Tuttle in 1972, where they raised their family. Joe and Margie were blessed with 3 children, Sherri, John, and Joel. He cared for his family deeply and worked hard to provide for them. Some of his favorite places to take his family were Lake Murray,Lake Texoma, Branson and Disneyland.

In his spare time he loved fishing, hunting, traveling and raising race horses. He loved getting together with friends and family to play cards,games and dominoes, as well as listening to music.

Joe and Margie purchased a horse ranch in Rush Springs.They were married for 38 years before her passing in December, 2000. He later met Kathy Banks through mutual friends in Marlow, Oklahoma. The two were wed on July 4, 2001 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Joe was blessed to adopt Tell, Kathy's youngest son, in 2003. Together they continued to live and raise horses in Rush Springs. Joe and Kathy were married for nearly 11 years before her unexpected passing in April, 2011.

He then followed his love of fishing and moved to Lake O' the Pines in Jefferson , Texas, where he worked for the Corp of Engineers. In 2015, Joe moved to Castle Rock, Colorado with his daughter and family. They later moved to Florida, where he spent the rest of his life, before joining his loved ones and Heavenly Father, on November 1, 2021.

Joe will always be remembered for his smile and laughter. He was notorious for telling stories and cracking jokes. He never met a stranger and was charming. Joe will also be remembered for being generous and helping others how he could. He always said, " It's better to give than receive."

He was preceded in death by his parents, John and Ruth (Colburn) Judkins; Wife, Marjorie Judkins; Second wife,Kathy Judkins; Brothers, Herbert, Frank, John Wesley Jr.(Jud) and Clayton Judkins, twin brother Joel. Sisters; Vera Pendleton, Eva Owens, Floy Ruth Judkins, Imaree David and Patsy Covington.

Survivors include: Daughter, Sherri Hulbert and husband Shayne of Wesley Chapel, Florida; Sons, Johnny Judkins of Moore, Joel Judkins and wife Tami of Tuttle, Tell Judkins and wife Megan of Perkins, Oklahoma. Seven grandchildren, Cortney, Lindsey, Jared, Dalton, Booklyn, Jaxon, and Brayden; 2 great grandchildren, Anna and Eli. Many nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.