William M. "Bill" Golding, Commander, USN (Ret.); 81, of Manchester, NH passed away on Sunday, May 31, 2009 at Concord Regional VNA Hospice House in Concord after a brief illness. 

He was born in Manchester on April 16, 1928, son of the late Michael M. and Mary T. (Flynn) Golding. He was a graduate of St. Joseph's Boys High School, class of 1945. He attended St. Anselm College before joining the United States Navy V-5 Flight Training Program at the age of 17. 

He commenced active duty in the U.S. Navy with the V-5 Unit at the college of the Holy Cross in Worcester, MA. After two years of college he went through Navy Flight Training in Pensacola, FL and Corpus Christi, TX. He received his Naval Aviator Wings in August of 1949.

His active Navy career included carrier anti-submarine flying in the Atlantic; flight instructor in Advanced Training in Kingsville, TX; Assistant Air Operations Officer on the aircraft carriers USS WRIGHT (CVL-49) and USS BOXER (CVS-21) in the Pacific. He transitioned to flying jets in 1957 and became a jet instrument instructor at Fleet All-Weather Training Unit, Pacific in Coronado, CA. In 1958, he was an interceptor jet fighter pilot with All-Weather Fighter Squadron THREE (VFAW-3) in Coronado, CA. 

From 1959 to 1961, he attended and graduated from the U.S. Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, CA with a Bachelors of Science Degree; followed by graduation from the Command and Staff Course, and the U.S. Naval War College in Newport, RI. 

He was a carrier pilot with Carrier Air Anti-Submarine Squadron (VS-28) flying off the USS WASP (CVS-18) in the Atlantic from 1962 to 1964. In 1964, he returned to the U.S. Naval War College as an instructor of the Command and Staff course. He retired from active duty on March 1, 1967. 

He then joined Eastern Airlines in Miami, FL as a Supervisor of Procedures and Manuals in the Material Department of the Maintenance Division. He returned to Manchester in 1969. He became a member of Roger Crowley's campaign staff in the NH gubernational elections of 1970 and 1972. He served on the NH Crime Commission Staff from 1973 to 1980 and was appointed Chief Planner of the agency. 

He joined John H. Sununu's gubernational campaign staff in 1982. He subsequently held positions as Assistant Director of the Governor's Energy Office and a field representative at the governor's office of Emergency Management. He served as Military Aide-de-Camp during the terms of Governor John Sununu, Judd Gregg and Stephen Merrill. Along with Governor Hugh Gregg, he was a member of the White House Advance Team during the Presidential Primaries of 1988 and 1992 for George H.W. Bush. 

He retired from employment with the State of New Hampshire in 1993. 

He was a long time member of the Community Players of Concord. Over a span of over thirty years, he served five terms as Treasurer and two terms on the Board of Directors. He also performed in over two score musicals, dramas and comedies. He was a member of the Flying Midshipmen Association, the Association of Naval Aviation, the U.S. Naval Institute, and the American Legion Sweeney Post #2. 

He served three non-consecutive terms in the New Hampshire House of Representatives from Ward 2. He served one term on the State and Federal Relations and Veterans Affairs House Committee and two terms on the Science, Technology and Energy Committee. He also served two terms on the Hillsborough County Executive Committee and also had a term as Vice-Chairman of the Manchester Republican Committee and a number of terms as Secretary and Chairman of the Ward 2 Republican Committee. 

He is predeceased by his son Stephen of Miami, FL. 

William is survived by his wife of 31 years, Rosalyn L. (McEvoy, Sanborn) Golding; two sons: Mark Golding of Manchester, William Golding and Denise of MS; one daughter: Anne M. Metzger and her husband Chris of FL; two step-sons: Thomas Sanborn of Manchester and Daniel Sanborn and his wife Jennifer of Manchester; four step-daughters: Colleen Danault and her husband Gary, Nancy Dearborn, Ann Beleski and Catherine Sanborn all of Manchester; 13 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren. 

Calling hours will be held on Wednesday, June 3, 2009 from 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm & 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm at McHugh Funeral Home, 483 Beech Street, corner of Hanover Street, Manchester, NH 03104. A Mass of Christian burial will be held on Thursday, June 4, 2009 at St. Catherine Church, corner of Webster and Hemlock Street, Manchester, NH 03104 at 10:00 am. Burial will follow at St. Joseph Cemetery in Bedford, NH. To sign an on-line guest book go towww.mchughfuneralhome.com