RAYMOND THEODORE GOLDEN

Raymond Theodore Golden, age 85, a resident of Fort Scott, Kansas, went to be with his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, on Thursday, July 12, 2007 at Mercy Health Center. He was born March 5, 1922, in Baden, Missouri, to Royal Scepter and Mary Elva Baxter Golden.

He worked as a welder in the civil service in Hawaii during World War II. After returning to the mainland, he worked as a welder in the Kansas City area.

He married Bertha Mary Bisel on December 18, 1950, in Topeka, Kansas. They lived in the Kansas City area, before moving to Leavenworth, Kansas, then to Prescott, and finally residing in Fort Scott. He retired from General Motors in 1982 after thirty years of employment. He is best remembered by his passion for life and love of his Lord and family.

He served as youth leader, lay pastor, Sunday school teacher and Sunday school superintendent at the Wesleyan Church in Leavenworth, Kansas, before moving to Fort Scott. He was a member of the Parkway Church of God (Holiness) where he has served as an usher and greeter for many years.

He is survived by his wife of fifty-seven years, Bertha, of the home, and his children, Steve and Lorrie Golden, Fresno, California, John and Charlotte Jones, Denver, Colorado, Catherine and Dan Yodice, West Palm Beach, Florida, Mary and Wes Woellhof, Fort Scott, Kansas, Karl and Joyce Flanner, Fort Scott, Kevin and Janice Alexander, Mound City, Kansas, and Paul and Debbie Golden, Ottawa, Kansas.

Also surviving is a brother, Cornelius Dearborn Golden, California, Missouri, twenty-four grandchildren and six great-grandchildren and a multitude of nephews, nieces, cousins, and friends.

Preceding him to Heaven were four brothers, Henry Vanness Golden, William Charles Golden, Royal Scepter Golden, and Thomas Nathaniel Golden and three sisters, Mary Caroline McClard, Theodosia Orene Arnold and Ester Valera May Crooks. Also waiting for him is a grandson, Aaron Eldon Alexander.

Rev. Mark Stetler will conduct funeral services at 10:30 a.m. Monday, July 16, 2007, at the Parkway Church of God (Holiness). Burial will follow in the Memory Gardens Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. Sunday at the Cheney Witt Memorial Chapel. Memorials are suggested to Fort Scott Christian Heights or Bethany Christian Academy of Wheat Ridge, Colorado and may be left in care of the Cheney Witt Memorial Chapel, 201 S. Main, P.O. Box 347, Fort Scott, KS 66701.