John Goldsworthy

John is survived by his loving wife, Hazel (married 66 years 8 months) devoted children Daughter Teresa (Terry), Son-in-Law Ty Holden, Son John, Son James (Jim), Daughter-in-Law Lisa Goldsworthy, Grandson Richard Holden, Great-Grandson Brody Mandeville, Granddaughter Melanie Jenson, Husband Cooper and Great-Grandchildren Marcus & Astrid Jenson as well as many loving nieces and nephews. John graduated Telluride High School class of 1939; as a junior there, he won the State Division Boxing Championship. Summers were spent working as a delivery truck driver for his mother & father, George and Bessie, who owned the City Grocery. He also worked at the Mill and the Bullion tunnel, and was on the line gang at the Telluride Power Company. In 1940, he operated the Illium Power plant, the country’s first alternating current power plant. A year later, he transferred to the Durango Tacoma Power Plant. Shortly thereafter, he was accepted into the National Trade School in Los Angeles, CA where he was certified as an Electrical Technician. John enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1942 and inducted at Fort Logan, CO. He served our country as a Technical Sergeant in the 106th Ordnance Battalion, stationed in the Pacific Theater including the Hawaiian Islands, as well as in the Philippines including Cebu and Mindanao. John also participated in “The Battle of Leyte Gulf” which is widely considered to be the largest naval battle of WWII. Recently, he shared the story of how his Battalion was on a ship headed for the invasion of Japan in August of 1945: After a few hours of sailing, the ship abruptly turned around and headed back to port. They later found out that the Atomic Bomb had been dropped on Hiroshima. He thought that as horrible as this was to comprehend, the bombing of Hiroshima saved countless lives as well as his own. John was honorably discharged in October 1945 at Fort Logan, CO. John worked as a Journeyman Electrician and a proud 64-year member of the I.B.E.W. Local #68 and spent the last 15 years of his career at the Rocky Flats Nuclear Weapons Plant assembling components for nuclear weapons. In 1983, He retired at the age of 62. He thoroughly enjoyed retirement, making lots of time with his grandchildren. John was an avid fisherman, spending countless hours trying to land “The Big One”. He and Hazel traveled in their motorhome and made many friends along the way. They delighted in seeing this great country during those many road trips. We have lost a pillar of the Goldsworthy family; his kind, patient, quick-witted and above all—loving— spirit will always remain in all of our hearts. Peace be with you.