John Golden

John Raymond Golden, III was born October 23, 1926, in Minneapolis, Minnesota to John Raymond Golden, Jr. and Esther H. (Rettke) Golden. John left for his heavenly home on Saturday, October 18, 2025 in Tulsa, Oklahoma at the age of 98 – only five days shy of his 99th birthday! Services are being held at Hayhurst Funeral Home in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma on Thursday, October 23, 2025. John will be buried at Floral Haven Cemetery. John grew up in Fairmont, Minnesota and later Madison, Wisconsin both where winters were always cold and snowy. As a teen, he and his friends would take an old junky car out on to the frozen river and frozen lakes to do donuts on the ice – having to be rescued only occasionally. Immediately after graduating high school in 1944, John joined the Navy and completed military career training in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. He served on the U.S.S. Tutuila during WWII as a radio and electronics repairman and was stationed in China. After he was honorably discharged from the Navy in 1946, John return to Oklahoma City where he met Norma “Lucille” (Mayo) Harpool one evening at the local roller-skating rink that they both frequented and they were married October 22, 1948. John and Lucille moved to Tulsa, Oklahoma in 1950, where John attended Spartan School of Aeronautics. One of the highlights of his career as an electrical engineer was being assigned to work on the Apollo 11 space program for NASA. Eventually John owned his own company where he designed and built driver’s license testing machines. After retiring, John and Lucille travelled the country by motor home, often with members of several R.V. clubs they were founding members of. Some of their favorite destinations included beautiful areas like Northern California, Oregon, Washington, and Colorado (where they had camped together for more than 50 years!). John could often be found in his garage tinkering with different things, rebuilding, or fixing something. Every light and electronic in his house seemed to be programed or on a timer and he would amuse the grandchildren at Christmas time with his “magic” Christmas tree, which turned on when they blew on it. John loved puzzles and learning how things worked and despite never having finished college, he was a brilliant mind who leaves a legacy of curiosity and passion for learning to his kids and grandkids. Over their nearly 77 years of marriage, John and Lucile were blessed with a daughter, Nancy, son, Randy, three granddaughters, seven great-grandchildren, and one great-great granddaughter. After a long and happy life filled with much love and adventure, John succumbed to a series of health problems and hospitalizations. Only three weeks after losing his beloved wife, John has now joined her in their heavenly home. John is survived by: • Daughter, Nancy Coleman of Broken Arrow, Oklahoma • Son, Randy Golden of Broken Arrow, Oklahoma • Granddaughter, Christy Miller and Frank of Lubbock, Texas • Granddaughter, Stephanie Manor and Dante of Broken Arrow, Oklahoma • Granddaughter, Darcie Golden and Brad Bean of Edmond, Oklahoma • Great-Grandchildren: Madison Miller (24), Jordan Miller (21) and Caleb Crouch, Riley Mumford (20), Isabella McKnight (15), Brody McKnight (14), Brooks Bean (3), and Whitley Bean (1) • Great-Great-Granddaughter, Wrenlee Crouch (1) John is preceded in death by: • Father, John R. Golden, Jr. • Mother, Esther H. (Rettke) Golden • Brother, James Howard Golden • Son-In-Law, William (Bill) Coleman • Wife, Norma “Lucille” (Mayo) (Harpool) Golden

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John Golden

October 23, 1926 - October 18, 2025