RALEIGH

Jimmy William Goldston was born on November 13, 1929 to James S. Goldston and Cora Bradford in the small town of Goldston, North Carolina. After Jimmy lost his father at a young age, his mother moved the family to Raleigh.

When Jimmy graduated high school he attended Campbell College, at that time a two year school. After finishing at Campbell he transferred to North Carolina State University where he received his undergraduate degree.

After finishing college, he held several jobs, taught history, worked at Dorothea Dix and began coaching football. At some point in the early 1950s, Jimmy began refereeing and umpiring for high school and ACC teams both. He once umpired a ACC championship game in which his Alma Mater, NCSU, was playing. That is just how fair and impartial he was – not one of his colleagues or the teams had any issue with him calling the game. He was so dedicated to the games he once hitchhiked from Raleigh to Nova Scotia to call a game he had promised to do.

Goldston also had an entrepreneurial spirit. Someone once mentioned to him that he should get into automobile body work. And so he did. He opened College Paint and Body work in 1958, and owned the business for 60 years. Over the years he had two other businesses: Mae's Country Kitchen and Backhoe Service of Raleigh.

Among the many things Jimmy loved were plants and history. He made caring for plants look easy and could converse on any subject in US and World history. And of course he loved watching sports on TV or in person.

While Jimmy had no children of his own, he was a parent to many and never met a stranger. He was one of those rare folks who seemingly could actually talk to babies. And he helped countless folks of any age, always telling them, "Don't tell nobody – we will just keep this between us." He did not want or seek the limelight or the glory.

Mr. Goldston is survived by a host of cousins: Mary Joyce Steinbeck, and her children, Brenda Miller and Doug Miller; Bob Parrish; Wanda Massey and Mike Massey;  Deborah Haley; Margaret Goldston and Cathy Goldston. He leaves many friends to cherish his memory, James Green, Chris Coley, Barry Kirby, Greg Godwin, Robin Saleeby, Joe Webb and many more.

A funeral service will be held at 11:00 AM on Tuesday, October 19, 2021 at Montlawn Funeral Home Chapel. Burial will immediately follow at Goldston United Methodist Church Cemetery in Goldston, NC. Friends and family are invited to attend a visitation on Monday, October 18 ^th from 6:00 – 8:00 pm and or to attend a reception following the burial at the Church Fellowship Hall.

Arrangements under the direction of Montlawn Funeral Home and Cremations.