Jean Golden, 81

Jean Golden, a longtime lay leader in the United Church of Christ’s national ministries and its New York Conference, died Aug. 13, 2022, in Rochester, N.Y. Her death came “after obstinately thumbing her nose at cancer for nearly 11 years,” said her son, Jamie Golden. Jean Virginia Lenhart was born Feb. 11, 1941, in Middletown, Conn. She grew up in Cape Elizabeth, Maine. She graduated from UCC-related Hood College in 1962 and was married that year to John Golden at Plymouth UCC, Des Moines, Iowa, with its pastor, her father, the Rev. James Lenhart, officiating. The Goldens lived in Kansas and New Jersey before settling down in Pittsford, N.Y. There Jean worked in clothing sales and as an assistant buyer for the Sibley’s department store and its parent, the May Company, and became active in local politics. Her voluntary service to the UCC included many leadership roles at Mountain Rise UCC, Fairport, N.Y., and terms on the New York Conference board, the national Executive Council and Local Church Ministries board, and the ecumenical Greater Rochester Community of Churches board. Survivors include her brother, James Lenhart, her sons, James and Charles Golden, and three grandchildren. A celebration of her life will be at 1 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 17, at the Mountain Rise church.

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