Mr. Billy Joe Golden, 81, of Cartersville, died Friday, July 11, 2014 at Cartersville Medical Center of Lymphoma.
Born December 28, 1932 in Heard County, Georgia, he was the son of the late Ira Gallaway Golden and the late Martha Lula Barnes Golden. Bill worked in his father’s saw mill as a young boy, learning to drive logging trucks with no brakes at age seven. This started his love for all things mechanical. He got his driver’s license at age twelve to drive his mother to frequent doctor’s appointments. Records had to be corrected later so he wouldn’t be four years older. He drove car haulers for a short time before going to work at Calloway Mills, in Lagrange, GA at age 19. While there, he developed award winning tufing machine innovations. In 1963, he joined Lewis Carpet Mills in Cartersville, GA as a department manager and was promoted to Vice President of Manufacturing later. During the 80’s, he was a consultant in China and Indonesia. Very few photos exist of his time overseas because he gave them to workers who had never had pictures of themselves. He gave his Chinese interpreter a tip the equivalent of a year’s salary, about $100 and she almost fainted. Before his illness, he loved rebuilding boats that seemed hopelessly in disrepair. He loved fishing and could always find where the bass were when no one else could. He and his brother “Cracker”, sons and grandsons, made many fishing trips off the coast of Florida and always had hilarious misadventures to entertain the ones who weren’t there. A favorite saying of his: “There is so much bad in the best of us, and so much good in the worst of us, that it doesn’t behoove any of us, to talk about the rest of us”. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by three sisters, Florence Bennett, Laura “Lollie” Owen, Nelle O’Neal; two brothers, William Frazier “Buck” Golden and Ira Ralph “Cracker” Golden.
Survivors include his wife of 63 years, Norma June Awbrey Golden of Cartersville; daughters, Kathi Marie Golden of Dalton, Georgia, Leisa Golden Williamson and her husband Steven of Lake Jackson, Texas; sons, Ronald Joseph Golden, Sr. and his wife Barbara of Acworth, Georgia, Ira Warner Golden and his wife Anne of Decatur, Georgia; grandchildren, Kayli Marie Barton, Leiah Williamson Athey, Awbrey Anne Golden, Chelsea Elizabeth Golden, Jenna June Williamson, Ronald Joseph “Joe” Golden, Jr. and his wife Renee, Russell James Golden and his wife Leah, Zachary Daniel Barton; great-grandchildren, Lily Claire Golden, Hadley Elizabeth Golden, Carter Joseph Golden and Anderson James Golden.
A private Memorial Service will be held at a later date.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggest that donations be made to The Emory University School of Medicine, Emory Autism Center or The Justine Tyler Traux Building at 1551 Shoup Court, Atlanta, Ga. 30322 or call (404) 727-8350.
Parnick Jennings Funeral Home and Cremation Services is honored to serve the family of Mr. Billy J. Golden; please visit www.parnickjenningsfuneral.com to share your memories or leave a condolence message.