GOLDSMITH, Milton (Goldie)

Kingman Daily Miner, Kingman, AZ - Published on June 12, 2014 - He was born in Castro County in Dimmitt, Texas, on Aug. 17, 1928. His father was Taylor Goldsmith and his mother was Edna Fields. Goldie's mother died when he was only four and his baby brother Gene was six months. They moved from Texas to Oklahoma in about 1934 to be closer to family. He grew up with four sisters and a brother: Gene, Marie, Minnie, Reba and Pauline, in a town called Marietta, Okla. Goldie graduated high school at Meadowbrook High School on May 14, 1948. He played basketball there and was good at it. They called him "Hossfly," affectionately. He joined the Navy on May 27, 1949, at Helena, Mont. He was stationed on aircraft carriers after service school at Memphis, Tenn. with a rating of electrician's mate second class. He served on the carrier Philipean City and was discharged honorably at the U.S. Recruiting Station in San Diego from Fighter Squadron 113. He was called Milton by his Oklahoma friends and family. When he and his brother Gene moved to Seligman, he was "Goldie" to everyone there. He ran garages and service stations, learned to fly an airplane and went to Alaska and staked some mining claims. He became single in 1968, had joined the union and worked construction as a heavy-duty mechanic-welder until he retired Feb. 1, 1989. He built a house in Chino Valley and farmed some, moved to Golden Valley and finally wound up in Kingman. He loved his home here and called some square dances besides bowling to take up time. Gradually his health slipped away. He departed, leaving his wife, Elsie; stepdaughters, Carolyn, Sunnie and Patty; one sister, Marie Bollen; and a bevy of nieces and nephews, all from Okalahoma - except Elsie, Sunny and Patty, who reside Arizona and Nevada. We miss Goldie and know we will meet again. He didn't want a service for his going, just our love and memories.