Jim Cole

Jim Wesley Cole died April 1, 2020.  He was 98 years old.  Jim was born on November 12, 1921 to Eugene and Nora Cole in Kipling, Louisiana and grew up in neighboring Dry Creek.  At 19, Jim took a job as a lineman for Gulf States Utility Company.  He joined the Coast Guard during WWII, patrolling beaches for a time before being assigned to a small gasoline tanker that transported aviation gasoline to various bases in the south pacific as well as providing diesel fuel for submarines and other small craft.  In this second capacity Jim and his ship participated in the invasions of Leyte, Saipan and Borneo.  At the end of the war he briefly returned to Louisiana before joining the Merchant Marine and sailed on cargo vessels for a year before receiving training as an electrician.  He then took a job with Container Corporation.

On October 14, 1950 he married his first wife Margaret.  In 1979 Jim retired from Container at which time he and Margaret moved to Brevard.  After Margaret’s death, he married Charlotte Loucas in 2000 and spent many happy years before her death in 2018.

Jim was very active in the community serving with the Kiwanis Club, the American Red Cross, AARP, American Legion and the VFW.  He also worked with the Brevard Police Department as a crossing guard and with Crime Stoppers.  He also spent time at Sharing House and helped improve trails in Pisgah National Forest.

Jim is survived by his nephews Charles Bell and his wife Mary of Deridder, LA and Larry Cole, David Cole and Danny Cole all of Dry Creek, La.  He is also survived by his stepdaughter Joy Woodward and her husband Charles of Brevard and his stepson Bradford Loucas of League City, TX.

A memorial service will be held at Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd, in Brevard.  Date to be determined.

In lieu of flowers donations can be sent to Sharing House, P.O. Box 958, Brevard, NC  28712 or Bread of Life, 238 S. Caldwell St., Brevard, NC 28712.