He was born Jan. 27, 1918, in Fairview, Indiana, one of 13 children born to Harvey Elmer “Hub” and Nellie Newkirk Cole. He was raised in Bennington, Indiana, and was a 1936 graduate of Vevay High School. He enrolled in accounting at the IU Extension in Kokomo, Indiana. He attended La Salle University in Chicago for two years and University of Wisconsin for two years for accounting when he was serving his country. He was inducted into the U.S. Army Air Force March 18, 1943, serving during World War II. He served in Saipan and earned the Asiatic Pacific Theater Ribbon with 1 Bronze Star, the Good Conduct Medal and the World War II Victory Medal. He was honorably discharged with the rank of Corporal Jan. 13, 1946. After the service, he worked at Jefferson Proving Ground in Madison. He served as an auditor for Switzerland County and was also worked for Grays Electric as a lead electrician in the 1950s. He was a route salesman for Borden’s Co. from 1937 to 1952. He began to work for the State Board of Accounts June 30, 1961, retiring in 1984 after 23 1/2 years of service. He and his wife prepared taxes with their son, Rick, for the Comprehensive Tax Service in Kokomo, Indiana, from 1991 to 2009. He was a faithful member of Fairview United Methodist Church in Fairview, Indiana. On Jan. 27, 2018, he received the distinguished Hoosier Award from Gov. Eric J. Holcomb. He was also a member of the Vevay American Legion Post #185 and received the 70-year membership award March 11, 2018. He loved farming, tending to his crops and animals and will be remembered for his love of his family.
He is survived by two daughters, Sherry Courtney of Mesa, Arizona, and Karen Kelleher of Sellersburg, Indiana; two sons, David Cole of Rising Sun, Indiana, and Rick Cole of Kokomo, Indiana; 10 grandchildren; 13 great-grandchildren; three great-great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Kathleen Shoemaker Cole, whom he married Aug. 14, 1940, and who died August 17, 2015; six brothers, Wilfred, Raymond, Hilbert, Dilver, Donald and Emerson Cole; six sisters, Arlena Brown, Golda Hebel, Hazel Wiley, Pearl Byram, Mavis Scudder and Leo Gulley; and one granddaughter.

Full military rites will be conducted at the cemetery by the Honor Guard of the Vevay American Legion Post #185 and the Vevay VFW Post #5396.

--Madison Courier Wednesday, June 13, 2018--