Frank Cole

1917 - 2007

Frank Cole, 89, passed away peacefully Tuesday, July 10th at Modesto Memorial.
Frank was born to Jasper and Mary Lina Cole in Cookston Oklahoma, Oct. 14, 1917. The family moved to California in 1936 and
settled in the San Joaquin Valley around the Atwater / Livingston area. After serving in the civilian Conservation Corp in 1938 he worked in a mine at Thatchapi. He married Elenora Hodge on Oct. 21, 1939. After serving in the army as an airplane inspector, he retired from Castle Air Base after 34 years of civil service. his awards and commendations from that service are numerous and include the invention of a jet engine lift adapted by the Air Force for which he received an award and was very proud of.
Frank was many things to many people, but above all, he was a devoted husband and father. An accomplished musician, he played lead guitar with the Miller/Gulart band for over twenty years to help meet the needs of his family. In addition to extra income from music he farmed 20 acres for a number of years. With a full time job at Castle AFB, his music and small farm to run, being the man he was, he somehow managed to become the Post Commander for the Atwater American Legion, a Boy Scout Master for troop #29 in Atwater ad a baseball coach for Atwater little league and Babe Ruth teams. Frank was an avid outdoorsman and in his spare time he found the time to teach his sons to hunt and fish, while instilling his love of nature in all three boys.
His love for music remained a huge part of his life from his boyhood until the last year of his life when in Feb 2007, at the age of 89 he played his last song with a very dear friend, Vince Janssen of Merced. Frank took great pride in nurturing and teaching his son Dave and grandsons Franklyn Cole and David Keith Cole to become exceptional guitarists.
Frank was preceded in death by his beloved wife of 56 years Elenora Hodge Cole and son David R Cole.
Surviving are sons, Ronnie L. Cole and Dennis Cole of Mariposa and daughter Donna G Cole of Antioch, brother Jess L. Cole of Livingston; sisters Elva Faias and Elenor Montero of Fresno and Connie Allen of Porterville, 7 grandchildren, 22 great grandchildren and 4 great-great grandchildren.
Memorial services will be held August 18, at 1 PM at Midpines County Park.