James Cole

James B. Cole

1944 - 2023

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Obituary of James B. Cole

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Our beloved father, grandfather, and great-grandfather, James "Jim" Benjamin Cole passed away with his family by his side on May 27, 2023, at the age of 79 years. He will be lovingly remembered by his former wife of 30 years, Olivia "Livy"; children: Wesley, Marc (Heather), Brad (Andi), Hannah Dye (Andy); grandchildren: Lucas, Katelyn, Ashley, Bryon, Corey, Danyelle, Christopher, Tyler, and Dylan Cole and Genevieve, Charlotte, Holten, and Thatcher Dye; sister, Lois Arnold; as well as numerous caregivers, friends, and relatives. He will also be dearly missed by his brothers of Plumbers and Pipefitters Local 152 and former coworkers of Chapman Corporation (Washington, PA). He was predeceased by his; brother, Donald James Cole; and his parents: Frances Margaret (Lough) Cole and Benjamin Isaac Cole. Jim was born January 12, 1944, the son of Frances Margaret (Lough) Cole and Benjamin Isaac Cole and raised on the family's farm off Little Indian Creek near Morgantown. After graduating from Morgantown High School in 1962, he worked as a machinist at Christy's Machine Shop then as a tool crib attendant at Sterling Faucet. While at Sterling Faucet he attended technical school in Uniontown, PA where he studied welding. He then served a five-year apprenticeship with Plumbers and Pipefitters Local 152 and worked as a pipefitter for 39 years prior to his retirement. Twenty-seven of those years were spent working for Chapman Corporation. Jim was an outdoorsman and as much as he loved hunting and fishing himself, his eyes lit up when one of his children, grandchildren, friends, or neighbors showed up to hunt on his farm or fish in his pond. He excitedly recalled memories of his elk hunting trips to Creed, Colorado and the Clearwater National Forest in Idaho. He was a bookworm and had a profound interest in Civil War history. He believed you should read as much as you can at every opportunity. He took pride in many things in his life. He took pride in his trade and valued the enduring friendships that came with it. He took pride in his farm and his summer garden that he meticulously tended. He became quite the cantaloupe farmer and found joy in delivering them to friends and neighbors in his truck or golf cart. He also liked sharing his "special secret" for growing such a delicious cantaloupe crop. Jim will no doubt be remembered for his ornery smile and witty one-liners. Even after a stroke left him unable to speak, the ornery smile remained and he found new ways to communicate and engage with his family, friends, and caregivers, especially his longest-serving caregiver, Mabel "Kay" Glover. He traded the tractor and truck for the golf cart, but still he traveled the gravel roads taking in the scenery, stopping at family and neighbors' houses along the way. On a really good day he'd stop and pick up a grandchild to tag along with him on his ride. He attended retiree breakfasts at the union hall and looked forward to family gatherings at Christmas and Easter and a good Labor Day pig roast. Visits with friends weren't much different than they had ever been. As special friend, Charlie Fowler, once remarked, "We already know all of his best stories because we all lived them with him." Visitation will be held at McCulla Funeral Home on Thursday, June 1, 2023, from 4 to 7 p.m. and on Friday, June 2, 2023, from 10 a.m. until 11 a.m. A Funeral Service will be held Friday, June 2, 2023 at 11 a.m. Interment will follow at East Oak Grove Cemetery, Morgantown. Online condolences may be extended to the family at www.mcculla.com.
Thursday
1
June

Visitation

4:00 pm - 7:00 pm
Thursday, June 1, 2023
McCulla Funeral Home
770 Fairmont Road
Morgantown, West Virginia, United States
3042913458
Friday
2
June

Visitation

10:00 am - 11:00 am
Friday, June 2, 2023
McCulla Funeral Home
770 Fairmont Road
Morgantown, West Virginia, United States
3042913458
Friday
2
June

Funeral Service

11:00 am - 12:00 pm
Friday, June 2, 2023
McCulla Funeral Home
770 Fairmont Road
Morgantown, West Virginia, United States
3042913458
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James Cole

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James Cole

1944 - 2023

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