September 9, 1944 – January 4, 2026On Sunday, January 4, 2026, Richard Wayne Gold passed away peacefully at the age of 81 at his home in Ione.Rich was born on September 9, 1944, in Manteca, California, to Thomas Jefferson and Lottie Agnes Gold. Growing up in the Acampo area, he held a deep respect for his father and a soft spot for his mother. He also enjoyed playing marbles with his brothers and always lent a helping hand to his sister, especially when it came to washing out the oatmeal pot. After 3 years at Lodi High, difficult circumstances required his family to relocate. Rich was justifiably reluctant about this change. The family landed in the Camanche area, only to be uprooted soon after due to the reservoir being filled. A short move to the Jackson Valley soon turned Rich’s reluctancy into a fondness of the Ione area, where he became a proud graduate of Ione High School in 1962. Little did he know that the move they made to the Ione area would become the foundation where their future generations would grow, take root and become deeply woven in the community.Rich quietly, yet deeply loved his faith, family and his country, and proudly served overseas in the Army for two years. Rich met his future wife of 51 years, Judith Maple, at Ione Homecoming and the couple eventually married on September 14, 1974.Rich got started helping with “The Picnic” early on, clearing and burning brush at Howard Park in the area where Evalynn Bishop Hall would later sit. He donated his time by painting benches and more recently hauling bark, rock and water. Rich ran the frog jump for many years, helped with the sheep dog trials and served as President of the Ione Picnic Association in 1997. He also coached Little League and enjoyed watching the traditional Friday night homecoming games. In 2014, Rich was proudly named Grand Marshall of Ione Homecoming. This year will be the first Homecoming in 58 years that Rich will not be in attendance.Calling Rich Gold a hard worker would be a severe understatement. He knew what it felt like to go without and never wanted anyone around him to struggle. From picking peaches by the box as a kid to hauling hay by the bale as a teen, Rich eventually ended up in the sand pits of Ione operating open cab scrapers by the load. Operating Engineers provided steady work for various earth-moving contractors through the years for Rich where he honed his craft on multiple pieces of heavy equipment. He also worked for Caltrans for several years, where he plowed snow and won multiple belt buckles at the district and state levels for his skill and finesse on heavy equipment. His work ethic shows through not only on his extremely weathered hands, but also through those around him trying to continue his legacy of hard work. Rich eventually “retired” only to start his own dump truck service which became Gold and Sons Trucking. Rich never slowed down and worked another 25-plus years until the day he passed.Hunting, fishing and camping was more than just a hobby for Rich, it was a way to spend time with his family and friends while enjoying the outdoors. Whether he was camping at Dillon Beach, fishing the delta, dove hunting in Ione, or chasing mule deer out of state, everyone looked forward to one of Rich’s famous camp breakfasts.Rich also had a passion for old GM cars and trucks, taking pride in owning and knowing the history behind them. Rich always had multiple “projects” that he drove and could be seen making his daily stops at the Chevron.He was known for his gentle nature and a perfectly timed one-liner joke. Rich rarely missed a sporting event of his grandchildren, where he often refereed from the sidelines. Many looked to Rich as a pillar of steady strength to lean on. All who met him felt the love he had for his family. He will truly be missed.Rich was preceded in death by his parents; brother Theadore Gold; and sister Dorris Jean. He is survived by his wife Judy; his four children, Richard (Christine), Reggie (Katie), Ryan (Britten), Lindsey (Jared) D’Agostini; his grandchildren Jordan (Dakota) Steinkamp, Eric (Alyssa), Shane, Aubrie, Rocky, Colton, Bodie, Sydney, Ainsley, Range, Hallie, Arlo, Rowdy; great-granddaughter Jolene; and his siblings Linda Souza, Tom and Troy Gold.Services will be held at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, 407 West Marlette Street, Ione, CA on Thursday January 15, 2026 at 10 a.m. Prior to the funeral, a viewing will be held at Daneri’s Mortuary on Wednesday January 14, 2026 from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to the Ione Picnic Association, P.O. Box 494 Ione, CA.