Geneva Jane Golden

Geneva Jane (Maas) Golden, age 86 of 2623 Bluebonnet Drive, Sebring, Florida went to be with her Lord at 7:15pm, Saturday, July 19, 2014, in her residence. Geneva was born on March 14, 1928 on a farm near Manito, Illinois. She was a daughter of Folbert and Ella Marie (Stoetzer) Maas. She attended grade and high school in Manito, IL graduating in 1946. During those years, she loved to sing and dance and spent many hours performing at various functions. She was a cheerleader in both grade and high school. She married Reuben D. Golden on March 12, 1947 at the Manito Community Methodist Church. They farmed for two years and then in 1948 moved to a home that Reuben built for them in Manito, IL. In 1957 they made the move to Pekin, IL where they lived for thirty-four years. Geneva was mainly a wife, mother and homemaker but spent several years in the workforce as a receptionist, secretary in the medical field. They had wintered in Sebring, Florida for several years, so in 1990 the decision was made to sell their home and move to Sebring FL which they did in 1991. Sebring has been their home ever since. Geneva has always been an active member of her church. In Manito she was a member of the former W.S.C.S., the choir, and taught Sunday school. In Pekin she was in the choir, sang with a group called The Grace Notes and taught Sunday school there also. After moving to Florida, she became a full time member of First United Methodist Church, the choir, a Delegate to Annual Conference for four years, SPPR for seven years, a Certified Lay Speaker. She also held almost all positions in United Methodist Women and had the honor of serving the Lakeland District for eight years, four years as President. Since 2003 she has been the full time teacher of the Carraway Sunday School class and felt this was a call from God. She was preceded in death by her parents, one daughter (Melody), three brothers and two sisters. She leaves behind her husband of sixty-seven years, Reuben, two sons, David (Lucy) Golden of Parlin, NJ; Grant (Peggy) Golden of Pekin, IL, two grandsons, Max (Melissa) Golden of Sebring and Andrew Golden of Dunellen, NJ, three granddaughters, Marnie Golden of Brooklyn, NY; Bryn Golden of Janesville, WI, and Katie (Jonathan) Plouff of Old Bridge, NJ, one great-grandson, Jaycob Golden and two great-granddaughters, Caroline Plouff and Ariana Plouff. A memorial service will held on Friday, July 25, 2014 at First United Methodist Church at 11:00am. Gifts in remembrance may be made to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital in Memphis, TN or to the Building Fund of First United Methodist Church, Sebring. Arrangements entrusted to: Stephenson-Nelson Funeral Home of Sebring (863) 385-0125 www.stephensonnelsonfh.com