Byron Cole

He was born on January 10, 1922, in Benton, Kentucky to the late Geraldine and Ruall Omer Cole. Lucille Harrison Cole, who was Byron's college sweetheart and wife of 60 years, predeceased him. Byron was a retired small business owner. Earlier in his life he was an insurance salesman, Texas history teacher, and a hospital administrator. Raised in Indiana, Byron moved to Texas to attend the University of Texas at Austin. He graduated from UT with a BBA. He served in the U.S. Army Infantry on the front lines in France in 1944. He sustained severe shrapnel injuries, for which he was awarded the Purple Heart. He was a devout Christian and a lifelong member of the Methodist church. He and Lucille met at a church sponsored spaghetti supper. After a long courtship of wartime love letters, they married in December 1945. They eventually made their home together in San Antonio, Texas. Upon retirement, Byron enjoyed community volunteer activities, especially his service as a docent at the Institute of Texan Cultures. He loved to travel and garden and he loved music. He spent his final years in Sugar Land in the home of his son and daughter-in-law.

Survivors include his son and daughter-in-law, Harrison and Julie Cole of Sugar Land; daughter and son-in-law, Marilyn and Stephen Brock of Austin; grandchildren, Jim and Lauren Cole; Clare, Hannah, Petra and Nora Brock; sister and brother-in-law, Jean and Ken Bush of Boynton Beach, Fl; sister-in-law, Rivers Harrison Lodge of Houston; and numerous nieces, nephews, and friends.

Memorial contributions may be made to Coker United Methodist Church, 231 E North Loop Rd., San Antonio, Texas 78216, 210 494-3455; First Choice Ministries at First United Methodist Church of Houston, 1320 Main St., Houston, TX 77002, 832 668-1800; CurePSP The Society for PSP, Executive Plaza III, 11350 McCormick Road Suite 906, Hunt Valley, MD 21031, 800 457-4777.