William “Bill” Cole

William (Bill) Cole passed away on March 28, 2016, in Helena, Montana. He was 90 years old at the time of his death.

Bill was born on January 23, 1926, in Louisville, Kentucky to Sammie N. Cole and Annie Ray Cole, the youngest of four children. He grew up in Louisville, learning much from his older brothers and sister. Baseball was his passion, and he met many of the early Boston Red Sox sluggers while working for their farm club in Louisville. Following an accelerated senior year in high school due to World War II, he enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Corp. He was trained as a radar operator. He sailed to the Aleutians, Japan, China, and Korea on Merchant Marine and U.S. Army transports. Bill met his future wife, Shirley J. Rogers, at a USO dance in Urbana, Illinois, where she was attending college. He was honorably discharged in June of 1945 in Seattle, Washington and spent two weeks riding the train and hitchhiking back to the Midwest and South. A stop to see a past commanding officer in Missoula, Montana was especially memorable.

Bill and Shirley were married in Franklin, Kentucky in July of 1946. Bill later enrolled in the University of Illinois under the GI Bill. He obtained his education degree, and went on to teach school in suburban Chicago for four years before being recruited into corporate America. He worked in training and personnel for Johnson Motors, Fairbanks-Morris, Curtis Candy, and LaSalle National Bank in Wisconsin and Illinois. Bill and Shirley had three children. The family resided in Glen Ellyn, Illinois for 45 years. There he was involved in the Little League Baseball Program and the Boy Scouts of America. He retired in 1990 as an executive recruiter while with a firm in Chicago.

In retirement Bill enjoyed swimming, walking, and sharing time with his neighbors in Glen Ellyn. There were annual trips to Montana and South Carolina to see children and their families. He cared for his ailing wife for several years. He was active in the First Congregational Church of Glen Ellyn, and volunteered as a senior companion for others with serious health issues.

Due to health issues of his own, Bill moved to Helena, Montana in 2010 to be closer to son Larry and his family. He had resided at Hunter’s Point since relocating. He enjoyed meeting and making new friends. Bingo, happy hour, road trips, and gardening were highlights for him.

Bill was preceded in death by wife Shirley, his parents Sammie and Annie, brothers Edward and Wilson, sister Sally, son Steve, and grandson Steven. He is survived by son Larry (Maureen) of Helena, Montana, daughter Cheryl of Greenville, South Carolina, granddaughter Hailey of Helena, Montana, grandson Michael of Columbia, South Carolina, and two nephews residing in Kentucky.

He is under the care of Big Sky Cremation and Twitchell Funeral Service. Cremation has taken place. Family and friends will celebrate Bill’s life between two and four p.m. on Wednesday, April 6, at Hunter’s Pointe Retirement Community, 2801 Colonial Drive, Helena, Montana. Graveside services will be conducted in Glen Ellyn, Illinois at a later date.

Bill wishes to thank his many caregivers at the Fort Harrison VA Outpatient Clinic and Hospital, Frontier Home Health and Hospice, as well as management at Hunter’s Pointe. Memorials in Bill’s name can be made to the Montana State Veterans Cemetery, P.O. Box 4789, Fort Harrison, Montana, 59636, or to the American Red Cross, 1300 28th Street South, Great Falls, Montana, 59405.

Service Schedule

Share

Send flowers

Please visit the floral shop page for assistance in choosing a local florist.

Photo Gallery

No photos have been submitted yet.
Click here to share yours.