James R. Golden

GOLDEN, JAMES R. (91) On Wednesday, December 14, 2011, of Arlington, Virginia. Mr. Golden was born in Leesburg, Florida, and he was a graduate of Stetson
University in DeLand, Florida, and the University of Florida School of Law in Gainesville. A fighter pilot in World War II, he flew P-47
Thunderbolts and P-51 Mustangs out of England. He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, the Air Medal with three Oak Leaf
Clusters and the Prisoner of War Medal. On his 48th combat mission--on D-Day in Normandy--he was forced to bail out of his crippled Mustang and was captured the following day dressed in French civilian clothes. He was a prisoner of war for almost eleven months and was liberated by
General Patton's Third Army. After the war he served two years as the aide to Congressmen Syd Herlong, two years as Legislative Attorney in the Office of the Secretary of the Air Force, and seven years as
Legislative Assistant and
Administrative Assistant to United States Senator from Florida,
Spessard L. Holland. Following his government service he joined the Ford Motor Company and retired after 22 years--eight years in Civic and Governmental Affairs in the southeastern United States, and 14 years at Ford's world headquarters in Dearborn, MI and Washington, DC. Before retirement Mr. Golden was active in many organizations in Washington. He was the second president of the Florida State
Society, and served as vice chairman of the board of the Meridian House International. He served as president of both the Stetson and the University of Florida Alumni Clubs. He chaired the International Trade Committee of the American Motor Vehicle Association and the chaired the Industry Sector
Advisory Committee for transportation to the Department of
Commerce during GATT negotiations. After retirement from Ford Motor Company Mr. Golden served as senior vice president of the International Management and
Development Institute in Washington, and was president of the P-47 thunderbolt Pilots
Association, Ltd., based at The Wings Club in New York City. He was a long-time member of the choir of The Church of the Covenant in Arlington, and the Washington Golf and Country Club. Mr. Golden is survived by his wife of 68 years, Elizabeth Colson Golden, for many years a high fashion model in Washington, D.C. and
Atlanta, and three children:
Elizabeth Golden, Asheville, N.C.; James R. Golden, Jr., Arlington, VA.; and Christie Golden, Denver, CO. He is also survived by eight grandsons and one great-granddaughter. His cremated remains will be inurned in the Columbarium at Arlington National Cemetery at a later time. Arrangements were made by Murphy Funeral Home in Arlington. In lieu of flowers memorial contribution may be made in James R. Golden's name to
Stetson University, Office of Development, 421 N. Woodland Blvd., Unit 8286, DeLand, FL 32720 (www.stetson.edu/give) or The Church of the Covenant
Presbyterian, 2666 Military Road, Arlington, VA 22207.