Jim Walling passed away on Feb. 21, 2026. He was 95 years old. Jim was born on Jan. 10, 1931 in Oklahoma City, to James Burl Walling and Azell Elliston. He graduated high school in 1949 and attended Central Christian College in Bartlesville for two years before his collegiate career was interrupted by the Korean War. He joined the Army and served his country from 1952 to 1954, stationed in Korea and Japan.
When he returned from Korea, he attended Murray State College for a semester, then transferred to East Central State College (now East Central University) in Ada, where he played baseball and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Education in 1957. In that same year, he married Janet Tolbert on Valentine’s Day. Jim went to work for a savings and loan company in Bartlesville. He then was transferred to Shawnee. In the late sixties, he went into business for himself, opening Jim Walling’s Auto Sales. At age 48, he became the head basketball coach at Asher High School, launching a 30-year career that culminated in his election to the Oklahoma Basketball Coaches Association Hall of Fame and the Oklahoma Coaches Hall of Fame. Jim’s first team made it to the state semifinals. His second team won the state championship. He also coached the Asher baseball team that year, claiming the runner-up and state championship trophies in the Fall and Spring seasons.
Jim became the head coach at Earlsboro High School in 1986. In 24 seasons, his teams reached the state tournament nine times, including six straight trips to the Big House between 1989 and 1995. His teams reached the state finals three consecutive years, claiming the state crown in 1993. His teams won a total of 642 games.
Jim is survived by his sons, Mark Walling (Bethany) of Ada and Jeff Walling (Tisa) of Phoenix, AZ; his grandchildren Dylan Walling of Oklahoma City, Erin Walling of Denver, CO, Flossie Walling of Ada, Maya Marti (Nate) of Phoenix, AZ, and Eli Walling of Naval Air Station North Island San Diego; and his brother Bob Walling of Hugo, OK.
Jim was preceded in death by his mother and father; his wife, Janet; and his brother, Cliff.
Funeral Services were held at Central Church of Christ in Shawnee.
