Richard Reginald Golden

Richard Reginald Golden died Friday, November 11, 2016 at the Freeland Manor Assisted Living Home in Snowflake, Arizona following a lengthy illness.  He was 90 years old.  Richard was born on a Thursday, June 24, 1926 in Buffalo, Erie County, New York to his parents, the late Reginald Charles and Maude Frances (Augustine) Golden.On his 17th birthday, Richard enlisted in the United States Navy during the height of WWII.  Sergeant Golden was a recipient of The Purple Heart from the sacrifices he endured from his wartime service.  After he was honorably discharged from the U.S. Navy, Richard joined the Air Force Reserves and received his final honorable discharge orders in May of 1956.  He was proud to be able to defend the liberties and freedoms that so many take for granted today.  As a loving husband and dedicated father, he instilled within his own family a sense of civic responsibility that has served each one of them well throughout their own lives. Richard was a member of the Masonic Lodge.  In his younger years he was raised to a 32nd Degree Mason at Ken-Ton Lodge #1186 in Kenmore, New York.In 1959, Richard moved his family to the west and settled in Arizona.  For many years, he was a member of the Phoenix Police Department and after 2 short years as a Patrolman he was assigned as a Detective in the Special Investigations Unit. He was well respected by his fellow officers and community of peers.  After leaving the Phoenix Police Department, Richard became a rancher for a short time and then was appointed as the Director for the Motor Vehicle Division (MVD) for many years.  Richard then accepted a promotion and, years later, retired from the MVD as the Executive State Hearing Officer.  Richard R. Golden is survived by his wife, Carol of Lakeside, Arizona; 2 sons:  John and wife, Siena of Show Low, Daniel and wife, Bobbie of Peoria, Arizona; 3 grandchildren:  Jenna, Gracie, Jordan; and by his sister, Christine and husband, Clifford Waugh of Cattaraugus, New York.  Along with his parents, he was preceded in death by his son, Robert Edward; brother, Jack Golden and by his sister, Ruth McCampbell.The funeral service for Richard will begin 1:00 P.M., Monday, November 21, 2016 at Owens Livingston Mortuary - White Mountain Chapel, 320 N. 9th Street in Show Low, Arizona where Masonic Funeral Rites will be rendered.  The concluding service and interment, with military honors, will immediately follow at the Lakeside Cemetery in Lakeside, Arizona.