James Golden

James "Hog" Golden, 71, a resident of North Wildwood, NJ went to be with his wife of 39 years, Marie, on Sunday, October 14, 2018. He died of respiratory failure. Born in Philadelphia he was the son of the late James Joseph Golden and Elizabeth Agnes Golden (Collins). Jim was pre-deceased by his brothers John Terrance Golden and David T. Golden. He is survived by siblings Joseph, Daniel, Robert, and Richard, his children Damien (Allison) Golden, Moira (Shawn) Murphy, Bridget, and Terrance (Amanda) Golden. He is also survived by his beloved grandchildren Patrick, Colin, Liam, Delaney, and Maryn Mae. Jim enlisted in the Navy on October 27, 1964 when he was 17 and served for 3 years and 5 days upon the USS Thor. Once discharged, he attended the Culinary Institute of America in 1977 and was there for 18 months until his graduation in 1978. During his time serving our country, Jim acquired skills that would serve him well throughout the rest of his life. He was a man of many talents which guided him on his professional journey that included, a flyboy for the Philadelphia Inquirer, a brick layer, an iron worker, a truck driver for Deitz & Watson, and an employee for the city of Philadelphia in the prison system. In 1990, he started working for the state of Pennsylvania as "the friendly neighborhood boiler inspector." Any time he was driving through the city, he often stated, "I inspected that place." Jim retired from the state in 2009 and assumed his most important job, Pop Hodge. He enjoyed: fishing, reading, traveling, taking naps, laughing boisterously, Wildwood waving, watching the sunrise, looking at the ocean, communicating via random emojis, his numerous trips back to the old neighborhood, and sitting on the porch as the unofficial mayor of 15th street. He was able to strike up a conversation with just about anyone and told some good stories. In Jim's words, "I had a good run. Met a good gal. Whoopie!" To celebrate his life, friends and family are invited to gather Monday evening October 22nd from 6 PM to 8 PM at the McCafferty-Sweeney Funeral Home 6126 Torresdale Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19135 and Tuesday morning October 23rd from 10:30 A.M. to 11:30 AM in St. Andrew Catholic Church 81 Swamp Road, Newtown, PA 18940. Jim's funeral mass will begin at 11:30 AM. Interment to follow at Washington Crossing National Cemetery. If so desired, please consider contributions in James Golden's name to the American Legion Post 178 (Charles P. McMenamy) 8041-43 Frankford Ave., Philadelphia, PA 19136. Arrangements by the McCafferty-Sweeney Funeral Home of Torresdale Avenue, John J. Barnes Supervisor, 215-333-0500. McCaffertySweeneyFuneralHome.com