Harry Herschel Cole's Obituary
HARRY HERSCHEL COLE
Harry Herschel Cole passed away at the age of 91 on April 13, 2012 after a brief illness. He will be sorely missed by his family. Harry was born in Big Springs, NE on July 2, 1920 to Newton and Etta Cole, and was the oldest of five boys. Harry spent his childhood in Spokane, WA and graduated from Central Valley High School, class of '37. It was in Spokane that Harry met his beloved Doris. Their marriage lasted 64 years until her death in 2007. After high school, Harry enlisted in what was then the Army Air Corp and piloted planes at a bombardier school in New Mexico during World War II. When he was recalled to active duty at the start of the Korean Conflict, he decided he might as well just stay in the Air Force and make a career out of it. He did so for 26 years, mostly flying air rescue, piloting SA-16s, (the "Albatross"). He loved flying and always thought it a great joke that he could do what he loved "at the taxpayers' expense". Harry is survived by three brothers, Gale, Claude and Jack, Three daughters, Karen Hawks (Guy, Sr.), Carol Linda Painter (Charles), and Kathy Threadgill (Ron), 9 grandchildren, 13 great-grandchildren and one great-great grandchild. Harry was preceded in death by his brother, Newton -Å"Junior- Cole, and his daughter, Cheryl Bittner. A memorial service will be held at 3:00 p.m. Saturday, April 28, 2012 at Mountain View Funeral Home Celebration of Life Center, 4100 Steilacoom Blvd. SW, Lakewood, WA.
Arrangements by Mountain View Funeral Home.
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