John Richard Golden Jr.

John  R Golden Jr. went with God on February 19, 2025, in Melbourne Florida with his son Bill Golden by his side. John spent his final days surrounded by all of his children, siblings, and enjoying  the warm weather and sunshine.

Growing up in Fall River Massachusetts John had a tremendous love of sports. He started in youth sports and was a member of the Durfee High School baseball team where he was featured in the local paper for his talent.

John graduated from Bradford Durfee College of Technology in 1964 with an B.S. in mechanical engineering. He moved to Detroit Michigan working at American Optical as a manufacturing engineer. He purchased his first Ford automobile direct from the Detroit factory and drove it to Washington D.C. where he relocated to work for the Naval Department as a civil engineer. This is where he met Margaret Betourney. They married and moved to Vermont in 1967 where they raised three children.

John pursued  his passion and started his first teaching job at Bellows Free Academy high school in St. Albans, Vermont where he remained for 30 years sharing his love of industrial arts in “Mr. Goldens shop” with hundreds of kids. He established a bowling league for students that was extremely popular. Mr. Goldens  students will tell you he called them by their first name without hesitation when they would meet decades later in the community. Students shared stories about “Mr. Golden’s life lessons” that they never forgot.

John married Diana Westover in May 1987, and they remained together until her death in May of 2020. John then moved to Vero Beach Florida with his son Bill and enjoyed numerous additional years of retirement in the warm weather with family and friends.

John created a vast collection of  memories for his children of photos that expands decades  of every event, celebration, or vacation. An avid sports participate and fan, John especially loved the Red Sox and was a great collector of sports cards. John took his children to baseball games at Fenway Park and even attended a play off game for the World Series with his daughter Maureen. John had a special love for animals and had an abundance of adored pets throughout his adult life. He also loved to fish and grow vegetable gardens.

On St. Patrick’s Day you would hear John singing his favorite song, “When Irish Eyes are Smiling.”
John was predeceased by his brother Fred Golden, brother Michael Golden, his parents John R Golden Sr. and Ruth M (Sullivan) Golden, and many beloved aunts, uncles, and cousins.

John is survived by this three children, Maureen Golden and her husband Mike Randall of Milton Vermont, Michael Golden of Bristol Vermont, and William Golden of Vero Beach Florida, his sister Kathleen (Golden) Murphy and her husband Mike of Oak Ridge New Jersey, his brother Chris Golden and his wife Barbara of Vero Beach Florida, grandchildren Sean Golden of Bristol Vermont and Sara Golden of Fairfield Vermont, his nieces Kelly Murphy Lindemuth and her husband John of Boulder Colorado, and Shannon Murphy Flannery and her husband Ed of Sparta New Jersey and several great nephews.

The children of John Golden would like to say a special thank you to the hospital staff of HCA Florida Lawnwood hospital, the Orlando Health Melbourne Hospital, the Indian River Center of Melbourne, the Wuesthoff  hospice team, and Buggs Funeral home of Melbourne for taking such great care of their father.

A memorial service will be held at the Cornerstone Christian Church in Vero Beach Florida on April 22nd, 2025, and those not able to attend in person may view online. Cornerstone Christian Church | Vero Beach, Florida

John R Golden Jr. will eternally rest in the family cemetery of St. Patrick’s Church in Fall River, Massachusetts on August 13th,  2025.

Please make donations in honor of John’s life to the Cornerstone Christian Church, 5950 12th Street, Vero Beach, FL  32966. Cornerstone Christian Church | Vero Beach, Florida