James H. Cole

DR. JAMES H. COLE ALBUQUERQUE, NM Dr. James H. Cole was born April 11, 1924 in Macedonia, IL and died in Albuquerque, NM on June 28, 2010 at age 86. He was the son of the late, Otto and Martha Cole. Dr. Cole grew up in Hammond, IN where he attended both grade and high school. Upon graduation from eighth grade he received the American Legion School award of scholarship and leadership, and subsequently was elected President of the Hammond High School student government. During WWII he enlisted in the Navy, receiving training at Great Lakes, the Universities of Wisconsin, Texas A&M, and communication facilities in Cheltenham, MD. His overseas duty was with Joint Combat Communication on Guam and after war's end he led a Navy communication team, attached to a Marine unit, in the possession and occupation of Truk, a Caroline Island in the Pacific. Following his discharge in 1946, he married Wilma Anderson of Hammond, IN and they raised two children: Sheri Cole Heying and Cyndi Cole Johnson, wife of Wayne D. Johnson, now residing in Albuquerque, NM. In 1953 he completed a bachelor's degree at Eastern Illinois University majoring in Biology. During that time he was a member and President of Kappa Sigma Kappa social fraternity, a member of Kappa Delta Pi and Theta Alpha Phi, national honorary scholastic and honorary dramatic fraternities. In 1955 he earned a Master of Science and in 1964 a Doctorate in systems Technology from Indiana University in Bloomington, IN. Dr. Cole's career included serving as Science and Media Supervisor for the Lake County Indiana public schools, as an executive with the American Book Company, New York City, seven years as a faculty member and Supervisor of Field Services at Indiana University, and more recently retiring after 21 years as Dean, College of Communication and Computer Science at Clarion University of Pennsylvania. During that time his daughter, Cyndi, earned a B.S. in Computer Science which was presented at graduation by her father. In 1976, he married Alberta Nelson, of DuBois, PA and after retirement they traveled extensively, then moved to Hartwell, GA, in June of 2000. In July of 2007, he and his wife moved to Albuquerque, NM. During his career he served as a deacon in the First Baptist Church, Bloomington, IN, a member of the First Methodist Church, Brookville, PA, and was active in many local, state and national organizations. He held a private pilot and ham radio operator's licenses, was a tournament racquetball player, and avid fisherman. In 1976 he received the L.C. Larson Leadership in Instructional Technology Award from Indiana University and in 1994 was designated by Clarion University as Dean Emeritus and was given the Alumni Association Distinguished Service Award. Preceded in death by his parents, two brothers and three sisters. Dr. Cole is survived by his wife; two daughters; four grandchildren; two great granddaughters; one brother; and many nephews, nieces and their children. A graveside service will be held on Tuesday, July 6, 2010, 1:00 p.m. at Santa Fe National Cemetery, Santa Fe, NM. Please visit our online guestbook for Dr. Cole at: RememberTheirStory.com