Perry Albert Cole

The Life of Perry Albert Cole

Born was on January 18, 1948, in Inola, OK to Albert Cole Jr and Doris Helen (Cotton) Cole. Perry was the oldest of five. Perry was a graduate of Okmulgee Tech and received an associate's degree in Drafting. He was also a proud graduate of Booker T. Washington High School in Tulsa, and this is where he met and married Juanita Maria Hardridge. While in Tulsa, their first child Stephanie was born.

New opportunities led Perry and Juanita to Los Angeles, CA. This is where their second child Marsha was born. The Cole family resided in Compton, CA for close to two decades. Perry’s career was in aerospace with such companies as Litton, Hughes Aircraft, Brunswick and McDonnell Douglas/Boeing. Along with having a secret clearance working on various US defense projects. Perry’s most noticeable project was the US Military’s C17. He had the pleasure of representing McDonnell Douglass within the Coleman McNair society, an organization dedicated increasing the number of African Americans and other minorities in all levels of management and a union presentative for the Society of Professional Engineering Employees in Aerospace (SPEEA).

Outside of BBQing, spending with time family and friends. Perry was an avid fan of Drag Racing (NHRA) and all things Star Wars...this passion he later shared with his grandsons. To know Perry is to love Perry...there was not a topic he did not have an opinion about. From politics, religion, current affairs and everything in between you name it, and Perry had statics for it. He was known to carry small reference books for just about any topic.

Family time...Perry enjoyed going out on the town with his wife Juanita. Not only nights on the town with Juanita, but he would also accompany his family to company picnics, holiday parties, concerts and casinos. Sporting events with family and nephew T (Anthony Foster) which he mentions often. Drag racing events from California to Tennessee with dad and Wendell. In later years, Perry enjoyed spending quality time with his grandsons. Whether it was traveling to Oklahoma or just sitting around talking...breaking bread as he would say.

On October 5th, Perry transitioned. Perry was preceded in death by his parents Albert Jr and Doris Helen Cole. Siblings Wendell, Felix, Marshall (sister) and his beloved wife Juanita, married for 55 years.

He leaves behind to cherish his memory, one sister Bendena Cole of Tulsa, OK; one aunt Ethel James of Tulsa, OK; two daughters Stephanie and Marsha Cole of Long Beach, CA. two grandsons Antione II and Joseph Perry Gregory of Long Beach, CA; along with a host of nieces, nephews and relatives and friends.