John F. Golden

Memorial services for John Fred Golden, 78 of Kilgore will be 2:00p.m. Saturday, June 18, 2022, at the Chapel of Rader Funeral Home in Kilgore. John Golden, known as “Poppa”, left his earthly home on June 14, 2022, in Kilgore.

John was born on August 4, 1943, in Jena, Louisiana to the late J.G. Golden and Marjorie Lucille Golden. He served in the United States Air Force as a weapons maintenance specialist on F-4 phantom jets. Stationed throughout Southeast Asia during the Vietnam conflict. Mr. Golden worked as a truck driver and diesel mechanic for many years until his retirement. Poppa enjoyed being in the outdoors and loved hunting, black powder, and especially his love of fishing! He was a loving and caring husband, father, brother, grandfather and great grandfather who will be missed by all that knew him.

He was preceded in death by his daughters, Sheila Donovan and Melissa Bridges and sister, Lily Coombs.

John is survived by his wife of 42 years, Mary Golden of Kilgore; daughters, Angie Elliott and husband Bobby of Kilgore and Gina Pitman of Hollywood, Florida; sons, John Fred Golden, Jr. of Kansas City, Kansas and Fred “Stoney” Southern and wife Julie of Tyler; sister, Karen Mitchell of Gladewater; grandchildren, Gillian, Jenny, John, Sarah, Blake, Nathan, Savannah, Dakota, Sky, Leah, Tristin, Brett, Jordan and Ryan; 20 great grandchildren and numerous nieces, nephews, cousins and other loving family members.