Cole Frank Denman Jr.

Cole Frank Denman Jr., "Junior", was born in Roswell, N.M., on Nov. 10, 1914. At the age of 98, on Monday, Jan. 28, 2013, he passed from this earthly life to be reunited with his one and only love, Jo. He was the son of Cole Frank Denman Sr. and Ethel Nevada "Nada" Denman. He had many great stories to tell about his life as a boy and as a teenager in New Mexico during the Great Depression. He spoke of his endless search for work and trying to make a little money while riding in a potato truck going to New Orleans and Colorado. He was always proud of riding a train to Kerrville, Texas, to attend Shriner College and while there became commander of his wing. He said his one regret was that he was not able to finish school and become a commissioned officer. He attended Schriner for two years but the money that provided him the opportunity to continue at school ran out. After coming to San Angelo, Texas, in 1935, to work for his father at the Pig Stand Restaurant on the corner of Beauregard Avenue and Jackson Street as a short-order cook, he met the love of his life, Jo Alice Bratcher. He said it was love at first sight because she was the most beautiful girl with the biggest smile he had ever seen. He told his friends, "I'm going to marry that girl." Cole worked at Goodfellow AFB during the World War II repairing airplanes coming in and out of the base. He also worked in San Antonio during the war at Lackland AFB welding whatever was needed. He returned to San Angelo and began welding for Shonrock. A few years later, he became a welder for James Green & Co. and would become Mr. Green's shop foreman at Texas Tank Car Works until his retirement in 1979. There was nothing he could not build with his welding torch (if he thought about it long enough). After his retirement, Cole and Jo enjoyed many trips across the country taking them from the Northwest to the Southwest and the Northeast to the Southeast. Cole was quite a golfer taking up the game with a wooden shaft 5 iron he found when he was 15 years old and continued to play golf into his 90's. Every time we would go out to Riverside Golf Course his old-time golfing cronies would inquire as to when he was coming back to the "Noon Game." That question always made him feel as though he had made a contribution to the game. Cole was preceded in death by his parents, Cole and Nada Denman; his wife, Jo Denman; his sister, Launa Boyer; a son, Michael Denman Sr.; Mike's wife, Beverly Denman; and a grandson, Bert Decuir. He is survived by his son, Dick Denman and wife Sandy of Corpus Christi; and his daughter, Kay Decuir and husband Alex of San Angelo. He leaves four granddaughters, Melynda Heflin and husband Charlie of Corpus Christi, Karol Maroney and husband Samuel of Abilene, Jennifer McCarley and husband Brian of Georgetown, Allyson Richardson and husband Jason of Odessa; three grandsons, Michael Denman and wife Dawn of Corpus Christi, Michael Denman Jr. and wife Angie of Lubbock, Christopher Denman and wife Lisa of Houston; 18 great-grandchildren; and one great-great-grandchild on the way. A special thank you goes to Dr. Charles Marsh and his nurse, Donna. You were always available for Daddy and took such exceptional care of him honoring his wishes of "less is more." He was blessed to have you and your staff attending him. A graveside service will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 2, 2013, (Jo and Cole's 72nd wedding anniversary) with internment in Lawnhaven Memorial Gardens. Dr. James Miller from The Heights Baptist Church will be officiating. Pallbearers will be his grandchildren. The service is under the direction of Johnson Funeral Home. I will miss you Daddy, you were such a pleasure to be with, and I am honored to have been with you during the last twenty years. I am so very grateful to have had this time with you. Thank you for all your efforts to teach me to play golf (even though, as you said, you waited 50 years too late) and for giving me your untiring work ethic. Lay your tired body down and rest peacefully in eternity. I will see you soon.