September 13, 1924 – April 27, 2012
Columbia, South Carolina
COLUMBIA, South Carolina – A Mass of Christian burial for Maj. Wayne Harris Golden, U.S. Army (Ret.), 87, will be celebrated at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, May 1, 2012, at St. Joseph Catholic Church, 3600 Devine Street, Columbia, SC 29205. Commendation and Farewell Prayers with full military rites will be in Fort Jackson National Cemetery, 4170 Percival Road, Columbia, SC 29229. The Rosary will be recited at 6:00 p.m. Monday, April 30, 2012, at Dunbar Funeral Home, Devine Street Chapel, with visitation following until 8:00 p.m.
Maj. Golden died Friday, April 27, 2012. Born in Bedford, Ind., he was the son of the late Howard N. Golden and Jenny L. Hart Golden Flynn. He graduated from Bloomington Indiana High School and later received a Bachelor or Art in Business Administration from the University of South Carolina.
Maj. Golden entered the United States Army in 1941. He served in World War II and in the Korean Conflict in the Signal Corps and as a paratrooper. His tours of duty included Korea, Japan, Germany and numerous other assignments. During his service he received many awards, including the Bronze Star with Clusters, Purple Heart, Army Commendation Ribbon and many others.
After retiring from the United States Army, he was employed by the U.S. Treasury Department for over 25 years. Maj. Golden volunteered with the National Eye Bank of America. He was awarded a Certificate of Appreciation by the North Carolina Eye Bank for his invaluable service. He faithfully communicated and coordinated the urgent donation and placement of donor corneas by using his ham radio twice daily at 7:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m.
Maj. Golden was a longtime member of St. Joseph Catholic Church. He is survived by his wife of 66 years, Colleen McNeil Golden; daughters, Kelly J. Golden of Columbia, Phyllis Wooten and her husband, Alan, of Boykin; grandchildren, Claudia Colleen Laney and her husband, Michael, of Boykin, Tom Russell of Boykin, Patrick J. Ferri Jr. of Charleston, Alan Wooten Jr. and his wife, Shannon, of Boykin, Justin Wooten and his wife, Michelle, of Boykin, Caroline Shaw and her husband, Troy, of Charleston, Sandy Cullen and her husband, J.P., of Greenville; great-grandchildren, Walker, Noah and Lucy Cullen, Mac and Blake Wooten, Hayley E. Russell, Porter Colleen Laney and Julian Wooten. He was predeceased by his son, Wayne H. Golden Jr.; brothers, Howard N. Golden Jr., William E. Golden; and sister, Louise Golden Gallay.