Bobby Gene Cole, 79, passed away Saturday, April 26, 2014 at Hospice of North Central Ohio in Ashland with his loving family by his side. Over 20 years of battling and winning against many health problems gave Bobby the wisdom and grace to know when to stop fighting. "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day-and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing". (2 Timothy 4:7, 8 NIV)
Bob was born on February 6, 1935 to Ernest and Hazel (Barnett) Cole. He married his loving and devoted wife, Roberta (Bailey) on September 4, 1953 and together they celebrated over 60 years of marriage and raised 4 children.
He was a determined and compassionate man who was a dedicated husband, father, grandfather, brother, and friend as well as a mentor to many. He was ever working on benevolence projects for widows, family, and friends to try to make their lives easier. “Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress…” (James 1:27). He was a natural born teacher who turned every situation into a meaningful learning experience. He was the consummate provider for his family.
Bob retired after 34.7 years of working at General Motors in Mansfield, working 3 years in Supervision and eventually settling in to WEMR (Welding Electrical Maintenance) Dept. He earned countless Suggestion Awards for his cost-saving ideas for GM and was a member of United Auto Workers Local 549.
His hobbies included woodcarving, metal fabrication, cabinet making, furniture restoration and refinishing. He was a member the Johnny Appleseed Wood Carvers, serving as President and also as a teacher of woodcarving. He was a "jack of all trades". He could design and build anything you could dream of, which included numerous sets of cabinets for family, friends and businesses. Some of his other ingenious design projects were a hydraulic car jack, electric garage door opener, woodshop ventilation system, leaf vacuum system and log splitter. He built a masonry wishing well and a two-tier flower bed for his family. Among his most unique carvings was a replica of the parade float for the Huron Ohio Centennial Celebration and a six-foot Indian carved out of a tree stump.
Bob and Roberta attended Crossroads Community Church for many years where Bob served as greeter. Together they hosted the Cole Family Reunion at their home for 20 years.
He is survived by his wife Roberta and their children Connie (Bob) McKenzie and Jeff (Laurie) Cole, both of Bellville, and Greg (Susie) Cole and daughter-in-law Connie Cole of Mansfield; 4 sisters, Maxine (Denzil) Gibson and Margene (Tom) Ogle of Mansfield, Hazel Johnson of Shelby, and Freida (Bobby) Clark of Banbera TX; 3 brothers, Bill (Betty) of Cleveland TN, Shannon (Claudia) of Beavercreek, and Michael of Dayton, and 2 sisters-in-law, Doris Cole of Round Lake IL and Marilyn Cole of Plymouth. He is also survived by 11 grandchildren, Julie Studer of New York City, NY, Jake (Megan) Studer of Toronto, Canada, Jessie Cole, Jonathan Cole, and Jen (Stephen) Brane of Mansfield, Allen (Danielle) Cole of Bellville, Rachel (Kyle) Lamb of Fredericktown, Tabatha (Mike Hyatt) Conwell of Clearfield, KY, Zack (Larissa) Cole of Independence, KY, Jevan Cole of Galion, and Kaity (Caleb) Mabry of Bellville; 12 great-grandchildren, and 1 great-great-grandchild.
He was preceded in death by his parents Ernest and Hazel, his step-mother Fleeda (Collins) Cole; 1 son, Barry Cole; 2 brothers, Adrian and Shocky Cole; 1 brother-in-law Bill Johnson, and 1 grandson Nicholas Cole.
Friends may call from 2-4 and 6-8 p.m. on Thursday May 1, 2014 at the Ontario Home of Wappner Funeral Directors, 100 S. Lexington Springmill Rd., Ontario, where funeral services will be held on Friday at 11:00 a.m. Burial will follow at Pavonia Cemetery. The family requests that memorial contributions be made to Hospice of North Central Ohio at 1050 Dauch Dr., Ashland, OH 44805 or through the funeral home. They were certainly a blessing to us.
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