Lt Col (Retired) John Samuel Cole Jr.

John, born in Mulberry, AR, was proceeded in death by his parents John Samuel and Ethel Cole of Mulberry, Arkansas, and his first wife Lynda Joyce Cole-08/27/1925–1/6/1997; he was one of 12 siblings: 5 of which were step brothers/sisters. (Half) Merle Cole, Mildred Babb, Hazel Willis, Ralph Cole, Gladys Hixon, (Full) James Cole, JD Cole, Barbara Jo Riddle, Johnnie Faye Shambarger, Dorothy Ann McBroom, and Edith Ryan.

John is survived by his wife, Barbara, of the home; sons John Robert Cole (Stephanie) – Tulsa, OK, Michael Andre Cole (Joan) – Norman, OK, Richard Samuel Cole-McGowan (Jesse) – Norman, OK; his sister Dorothy Ann McBroom – Galt, CA; step-sons Acie Poemoceah (Pam) – Plano, TX, and Marc Poemoceah (Ruth) – Gravette, AR. He is survived by his 5 grandchildren: Joyce Lorraine Klimek (Ron)-The Colony, TX, Kenneth J Cole (Rebecca)- Tulsa, OK, Rebecca Bates-Purcell, OK, David Cole-Norman, OK and Wesley Cole-Moore, OK and his 4 step-grandchildren: David Poemoceah (Mandie)-Gravette, AR, Daniel Poemoceah-Gravette, AR, Caleb Poemoceah-Durant, OK and Jill Poemoceah-Plano, TX. He is also survived by 6 great-grandchildren: Keston and Dominick Klimek, Victoria and Jeffrey Cole, Gabriella Cole, Cole Bates and step-great-granddaughter Abigail Poemoceah.

He was preceded in death by his parents, his first wife, Lynda (8/27/1925 – 1/6/1997), his son James Lynn Cole (11/30/1947-11/12/2019), brothers Merle Cole, Ralph Cole, James Cole, JD Cole and sisters Mildred Babb, Hazel Willis, Gladys Hixon, Barbara Jo Riddle, Jonnie Faye Shambarger and Edith Ryan.

Residing at time of his death in Norman, Oklahoma Lt. Colonel Cole was a career military officer serving for 33 years in multiple locations both domestic and international. First assignment Chaumont, France to Alcoa, TN to Mt. Clemons, MI to Newport, Rhode Island to Sculthorpe AFB, England to Chambley, France to Norman, OK to Da Nang AFB Vietnam to Tucson, AZ to Rome, NY to Guam AFB to Ft. Worth, TX then to retirement in Norman, OK.

John was an avid hunter and had two Pointer bird dogs, which were special to him - King and Pat. And when he wasn’t hunting, you could find him fishing. He loved being outdoors.

Active member and Deacon of First Baptist Church, Norman, OK; Norman Lion’s Club – served all officer positions and worked tirelessly until 2007 when age became a factor. During John’s military career travels, both domestic and international, he always joined the local Lion’s Club Chapters. His tenure covered 57 years of service.

He worked for Boeing in Wichita, KS prior to WWII out of High School building the B-17 Bomber. John Cole enlisted Army Air Corp and completed Officer Flight School and flew 29 missions in B-17 Bombers out of England in WWII; when the war was over he flew to multiple Pacific Islands to pick up Soldiers, many who were injured and needed additional treatment in the US. He transferred into the Air Force Reserve allowing him to attend the University of Oklahoma. His Master’s degree in accounting focusing on new tax legislation for the State of Oklahoma which was adopted for the betterment of the state. As a result of the Korean War he was recalled into the Air Force in 1950 by the Oklahoma Air National Guard to organize pilot training.

John fought in World War II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War. He was stationed in many US states, as well as France (2 tours), England, and Vietnam serving his country. John was an Air Force ROTC instructor at University of Oklahoma from 1964 -1967. His Air Force commendation medals include:

1. Distinguished Flying Cross

2. Distinguished Air Force Commendation

3. Bronze Star

4. American Defense Medal

5. Air Force Combat Readiness

6. American Campaign Medal

7. Asiatic Pacific Campaign

8. Vietnam Service Medal

9. European African Middle Eastern Campaign

10. World War II Victory Medal

11. Armed Forces Reserve Medal

He received his BS & Master’s Degree in Accounting at University of Oklahoma 1950. During his first semester at OU the registration system was so poor he talked President Cross into letting him develop a better registration system. The system was so successful that he was allowed to work for the University all the way to graduation.

Growing up on the farm developed his hard work ethic and taught him to accept responsibility, as he had to take over running the farm at age 15 due to his father being badly injured in a tractor accident. John was the best at telling stories of his past. Many tales of his childhood included his 11 brothers and sisters. Growing up on a farm he became a great hunter. He also loved to fish and tend to his vegetable garden and pecan trees. He was always sharing his vegetables or cans of tomatoes, peppers, etc. Being a career serviceman he and his family traveled and lived in many places in US and abroad (England and France). Moving every one, two, or three years seemed to be a normal thing for the family and when he retired, Norman was where they stayed.

After the death of Lynda he met Barbara at a church function. They married on 4-26-1998. They traveled together on many church trips (Alaska, Hawaii, Australia, Western Canada, East coast fall foliage tour, Branson, etc.) Branson was a special location because that trip is where they first met. Barbara began listening to so many of John’s stories, she decided to write them down in a book format as a record for future generations. For many years the family gathered for lunch on Sundays after church and then played a game of dominoes or “Joker’s Wild”. John’s favorite time was when family gathered, whether it be his immediate family or family reunions in Arkansas, family was everything to him. He was very proud of his children’s, grandchildren’s, and great-grandchildren’s accomplishments, so if he got started on those stories, you might as well pull up a chair, because these stories were going to be lengthy. John never met a stranger and always found the good in everyone he met. John was honest and worked hard and expected the same of others.

Memorial donations can be made to the First Baptist Church, 211 W. Comanche St, Norman, OK 73069 to honor his memory.