Marvin “Dale” Cole, age 85, of Ulysses, Kansas, passed away on August 2,
2020, surrounded by his family, after a long battle with Alzheimer’s
disease.
Dale was born on January 13, 1935, in Lindsay, Oklahoma to Doc and
Lillie (Griffin) Cole. His stories of playing basketball, working broom
corn, frailing pecans and growing up in a large family of 10 children on
the farm in Southern Oklahoma provided his family many hours of
entertainment and laughter. Dale graduated from Pernell High School in
1953 and attended East Central State University in Ada, OK.
In 1956, he
married his high school sweetheart, Shirley Ann Jones. After graduating
from college, Dale taught in Ness City, Kansas, for three years before
earning his Master’s degree from Oklahoma State University in 1960.
Dale and Shirley moved to Ulysses, Kansas, in August 1959. Dale embarked
on a long tenure at Ulysses High School, teaching science and coaching
basketball and tennis. He absolutely loved teaching and took great
pleasure in sharing stories from the classroom with his family. As the
years went on, he considered encounters with his former students the
greatest treats. His passion for educating didn’t stop at the doors of
the classroom but continued in his home where he loved to “teach” his
kids and grandkids. An avid fisherman and gardener, he enjoyed camping,
playing cards, and family reunions. He was also the greatest fan of the
sports and activities of his children and grandchildren. He was a
60-year member of Lions Club International and a long-time member and
deacon of First Baptist Church of Ulysses, Kansas.
He was welcomed to his home in Heaven by his parents, stepmother Edie
Cole; brothers, Dennis Cole, Dugie Cole, Darrel Cole, and Dan Cole; and
sister-in-laws Sylvia Cole and June Cole.
Dale is survived by his beloved wife of 64 years, Shirley Cole of
Ulysses, KS; son, Mike Cole of Pampa, TX; daughters, Melisa Westerman
(Mel) of Liberal, KS, and Cathy Frank (Dustin) of Omaha, NE; grandkids,
Tyler Westerman (Kassi) of Snyder, TX; Taryn Dinh of Liberal, KS; Nicki
Cole of Pampa, TX; Ashlyn Wayman (Tyler) of Collinsville, OK; Cody Cole
of Pampa, TX; Caden Frank of Hays, KS; Kenna Frank of Omaha, NE; Michael
Cole of Amarillo, TX; and Matt Cole of Amarillo, TX; and
great-grandkids Ryan Westerman, Miles Westerman, Autumn Cole, Cooper
Dinh and Tinslee Wayman. He is also survived by his brothers, Don Cole
(Madelyn) of Gallup, NM; Darvis Cole (Phyllis) of Norman, OK; Dewayne
Cole (Carla) of Lindsay, OK; and sisters Della Cobb (Gene) of Marlow,
OK; and Delma Lou Hall (Woodrow) of Holdenville, OK.
Funeral Service will be Saturday, August 8, 2020, at 10:00 a.m. at First
Baptist Church in Ulysses, Kansas, with Reverend Steve Swann and Pastor
Jay Mykytuik presiding. Interment of ashes will be at the family
cemetery in Foster, Oklahoma at a later date yet to be announced.
Friends and family may call at Robson Funeral Home in Ulysses, Kansas,
on Friday, August 7, 2020, from 3:00 p.m until 8:00 p.m. Family requests
memorial contributions be given to Ulysses Lions Club Sight Project or
First Baptist Church Building Fund in care of Robson Funeral Home, 218
South Main, Ulysses, Kansas 67880. An online guestbook is available at
https://bit.ly/dalecole.