Kole Shawn Sample

Kole Shawn Sample, 24, passed away at his Exton, Chester County, home on Sunday, Jan. 25, 2026. Born in East Hempfield Township, Lancaster County, he was the son of Hilary A. (Kirkpatrick) Hayes and John P. Sample.

Kole's parents and his girlfriend Julia E. Rios were by his side when he went home to be with the Lord.

A gracious, kindhearted, polite, smart, loyal, loving, and courageous soul, Kole shared his battle with brain cancer with more than 18,000 followers on his TikTok account.

Kole used TikTok to help others in their own battles with cancer but also to share lighter moments such as videos of him making lattes, one of his favorite hobbies. Other videos featured Kole praying and connecting with his followers about everyday life and encouraging them through their hardships.

In one of his posts, Kole shared his best tips for battling cancer. His first tip was, "Positivity is everything. Negativity will only make every day harder. Try to enjoy every day to its fullest, and always have a sense of humor."

Kole loved his and Julia's cat Boo, always referring to him as his son. He was a dedicated fan of the WWE – Randy Orton and John Cena were two of his favorites. He was also a huge fan of the Washington Commanders, and he enjoyed playing fantasy football. In his down time, one of his favorite things he enjoyed was playing Madden, Mortal Kombat, Call of Duty and other video games on his PlayStation5.

Kole was a foodie, with a love of Italian food. He enjoyed trying new restaurants with friends and family. Some of his favorite food included chicken parmesan, cheese steaks, and pizza, and he enjoyed chocolate milkshakes. He loved Dosie Dough in Lititz. He loved the beach, especially Cape May, Lewes, and Rehoboth. He and Julia would visit beaches during the summer and winter, bringing him a sense of peace and joy.

Kole enjoyed watching action, comedy, and horror movies. He especially enjoyed Adam Sandler films. He loved Spider-Man and SpongeBob. His favorite music included songs by Eminem, Morgan Wallen, and Avenged Sevenfold.

Kole cherished his friendships. From his friends he made in elementary school, to those he met i n college, at work, and through social media he had a special way of connecting with people. He showed up for the people he loved with loyalty, humor, and an open heart. His friendships were not just a part of his life, they were a true reflection of who he was.

Kole was never afraid to try new things. Growing up, he was King Triton in his elementary school play, and he was a Boy Scout. He played soccer in his early years, tried basketball, and played football for two years. He later found his true calling with close friends in track and field.

His adventurous spirit led him to his love of traveling. He visited Puerto Rico, Arizona, and Utah. His most recent trip was a bucket list trip to Iceland with his friends.

Kole was very goal-oriented and always strived to achieve the next level of success. He is a 2019 graduate of Warwick High School. He went on to earn his bachelor's degree with a dual major in Management and Marketing at West Chester University, and graduated early with the academic achievement of Summa Cum Laude in 2022. It's also where he met the love of his life Julia. The sky was truly the limit for him. While battling cancer, Kole was accepted into Villanova University's Professional MBA Program, where he was set to begin classes this spring.

While at WCU, Kole won first place in the university's Supply Chain Management Competition. He was selected as one of the Management Department's outstanding students in 2021-22. He was a WCU team member for the 2022 Keystone Sales Competition. Kole joined the Tau Kappa Epsilon fraternity, where as philanthropy chair he helped raise more than $17,000 for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital and other charities. While he battled cancer, he set up a live event on TikTok where he shaved his hair and donated the proceeds to the St. Baldrick's foundation. He was also asked to be an ambassador for the American Brain Tumor Association because of his impact on social media platforms, and his mission to spread awareness about brain cancer.

Kole's hard work led him to his career as an Associate Analyst for Sunoco Logistics Partners in Newtown Square, Delaware County.

In addition to his parents and Julia, Kole is survived by his siblings Connor, Ava, and Alexandra; maternal grandmother, Patricia Kirkpatrick; paternal grandmother, Sheila Kyle; aunts and uncles Alethea DiAngelus, wife of Anthony, Shawn Kirkpatrick, husband of Julie, and Katina Barton, wife of Zach; and several cousins.

A viewing will take place from 2-4 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 1, 2026, at the Charles F. Snyder Jr. Funeral Home & Crematory, 3110 Lititz Pike, Lititz, PA 17543. A celebration of Kole's life will begin at 4 p.m.

In lieu of flowers, contributions in Kole's memory can be made to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital at www.stjude.org or by mail at 501 St. Jude’s Place, Memphis, TN 38105, or to the American Brain Tumor Association at www.abta.org or by mail at 8550 W. Bryn Mawr Ave., Ste 550, Chicago, IL 60631.