Submitted by: Dan Rich
March 15, 1950 - Aug. 23, 2008
South Bend Tribune 8/25/2008
SOUTH BEND - Oliver Kenneth "Ken" Cole, 58,
passed away at 12:04 p.m. Saturday, August 23, 2008, in Woodridge
Assisted Living, South Bend, having battled heart disease,
diabetes and leukemia with much courage and good humor for many
years. Known as "Ken" to his family and many friends,
he had led a full and enriching life. He was born to Daniel
Carlton and Virginia (McCormick) Cole on March 15, 1950.
He graduated from Adams High School in 1968, and earned associate
degrees from both Ivy Tech and I.U.S.B., finishing with a
bachelor's degree from Sienna Heights College. Ken was a loving
husband to Christine (Stout) Cole, who he married on
October 24, 1970. He was a proud and loving father to his sons,
Carl (Rebekah) Cole, Jeffery Cole and Michelle Andrews,
both of South Bend. He is survived by his mother, Virginia Burr,
and her husband, Bill of Mayflower, AK; his beloved sister,
Delana (Mike) Lynch of Collierville, TN; niece, Lori
(Bill) Eubank of Nashville, TN; nephew, Mark Lynch of
Memphis, TN; brother-in-law to Ronald L. (Floretta) Stout,
Barbara (Stout) and Marcel Landuit, Michael and Cathie (Luczynski)
Stout; and uncle-in-law to several nieces and nephews and their
children. Ken had worked many places, Dodge Manufacturing in
Mishawaka, first in the warehouse and then in the foundry; Mastic
Vinyl Siding, finishing in the industrial maintenance dept.;
Patterson Dental Distribution, where he was a 3rd shift
supervisor; and finally as a contract worker at both Bosch and
Whirlpool Lab Technical Center, there Ken worked directly with
the Whirlpool engineers in developing and building prototype
dishwashers in what he proudly called his dream job, a
culmination of all his education and work experience in which he
had managed to "reinvent" himself many times. Ken was
an active member of the community. A Boy Scout with the rank of
Life, Order of the Arrow, and went on to become Asst. Scout
Master for Troop 450. He coached Little League, was a volunteer
at the College Football Hall Of Fame, and a member of Sunshine
Clubhouse. He was also an avid Chicago Cubs fan.
Funeral services will be held at 1 p.m.
Wednesday, Aug. 27, in the Kaniewski Funeral Home, 3545 N. Bendix
Drive. Friends may call from 2 to 8 p.m. Tuesday in the funeral
home. Memorial contributions may be made to the Boy Scouts of
America.