Obituary of Allan William Golding

On the evening of March 27^th, 2024, surrounded by the fierce love and devotion of his family, Allan Willam Golding slipped out of this world and into the next. Alan (he insisted on spelling Alan with one “l”) was an original. Born in 1932, to William and Tressa (Bailey) Golding, he was born in Fairville and was a lifelong resident of Lancaster. Alan was proud to be "Cunningham stock", a reference to his Irish Ancestors who settled at Cedar Camp, Sussex, NB. He was the quintessential “they don’t make them like that anymore” kind of man. He loved life and fought to stay with us until he could fight no more.

To Pauline, his wife of almost 69 years, he was simply everything – the love of her life, her rock, and her partner. To his family, he was ten feet tall and bulletproof. He was our moral compass, financial advisor, general contractor, political pundit, musical troubadour, and unwavering fan. He was king of dad jokes or “Grampy groaners” as they became known and his quick wit, intelligence, and tenacity to tackle all things both possible and impossible amazed us all.

Alan was one of the first of three generations to graduate from Saint John High School (class of 1949). He was captain of the Men’s Hockey team and in later years, continued his dedication to SJHS by building Christmas parade floats, and cooking sausages and pancakes for the annual Alumni breakfast. He spent time at UNB Fredericton and Dalhousie University where he majored in hockey, playing cards and pool. He returned to Saint John where he would build our family home and his life.

Alan’s love of life was matched only by his love and unwavering devotion to his family. In his early days, he built the family home with his own hands at night while pursuing his education and working to support his family during the day. As a teen, Al worked for his father at what is now the Irving Pulp and Paper Mill.  He began his professional career as a Certified Management Accountant at Simms Brush Factory, where he met his mentor, Harry Hallworth, a man whose integrity, compassion, and leadership he would admire and emulate throughout his life. Alan moved on to work at NBTel as Comptroller, before retiring as Executive Vice President of Finance and Administration of EPC Industries in 1991. He was also an entrepreneur. He was a founding partner of Keel Construction, Stor-It Systems and Sunshine Hair. His retirement adventures included more than 20 winters in Largo, Florida with Pauline, as well as bartending and maintenance at the Parker House Inn and travelling the Maritimes installing Phantom screens.

Alan always carved out time for his family. In earlier times, there were fishing trips, clam digging, swimming at the Y, and annual pilgrimages to Lakeside Pines in Maine for the most memorable family camping trips. Alan had a beautiful voice. He often sung or hummed tunes from his favorites, the likes of Nat King Cole, Jim Reeves, Frank Sinatra, Johnny Cash, Patsy Cline and countless others. As his family grew, he was busy crack filling and renovating homes, racoon proofing decks, providing doggy day care services, and chauffeuring his family to and from their various destinations. A life-long member of St Mark’s United Church, Alan was generous with his time, compassion, and good fortune to anyone in need but most especially – his family.

In what free time he had, he loved golf, hockey and playing pool. Alan loved the game but sacrificed golf to raise his family. Hockey was a lifelong passion from his youth, but as the years went by and hockey became less compatible with an aging body, he returned to the game of pool – a pastime he loved almost as much as friends like Bill Porter, and the rest of the pool hall gang. An avid gardener, he was most proud of his raspberries and pursued the art of baking pies – pies and the perfect cup of tea would be the only culinary skills he would master! Alan tried his luck at hunting in his youth but soon gave it up. His love of animals was undeniable, and he was most content with dogs and children. He was tender hearted and honest to a fault.

Alan was predeceased by his two beloved sisters, Dorothy and Norma. He was also predeceased by his son, Shawn Allan, a devastating loss he carried with him until his own passing. He is survived by his wife Pauline (Lingley), and children Sandra (Wayne) Barrett, Gary (Kathy) Golding, Sherry (Donald Chamberlain), Patricia, Jennifer (Michael) O’Brien, as well as his grandchildren and step grandchildren, Melissa and Shawn Barrett, Patrick and Daniel O’Brien, Michael and Andrew MacDonald, and Ben, Samuel, and Matthew Chamberlain. He is also survived by Dorothy and his late brother-in-law, Donald’s children, and their families, as well as Alan’s sister-in-law Shirley Conley and the extended Lingley family.

The family wants to thank the incredible and caring staff of the St. John St. Stephen Nursing Home who treated Dad like a member of their family. We also wish to express our gratitude to Dr. Christian Mackin and the Palliative Care team at the Saint John Regional Hospital for giving us more precious time with our father. To our caregivers who have done so much for our parents, we cannot say enough kind words of appreciation to you, Lynn, Evelyn and Sonya, Alan’s angels. Finally, thank you to all the family and friends who recently attended Dad’s 92^nd Birthday at St Mark’s United Church. He was thrilled to see so many of his oldest and dearest friends and family.

We are so blessed to be the children and family of this selfless, dedicated, unrelenting and intensely private man. To borrow words from W. H. Auden, “He was our North, our South, our East, our West. Our working week and our Sunday best.”  We will miss him every day of life.

Arrangements are under the care and direction of Castle Fallsview Funeral Home, 309 Lancaster Avenue, Saint John, NB (506-634-1701). Visitation will take place Sunday, April 21^st, from 2:00 - 8:00 pm at Castle Fallsview Funeral Home.  A Memorial Service will be held at St. Mark’s United Church, on Monday, April 22, at 11:00 am. Interment will take place in Cedar Hill Extension Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to a charity of the donor’s choice.  Online condolences can be made at www.castlefh.ca