Lucille Ruth Cole

Lucille Ruth Cole, 96, was born in Flushing, MI to loving parents, Bruno and Eva Wander, on Valentine's Day, 1927 – the youngest of four girls. Just out of high school, Lucille worked briefly at the Pentagon before marrying her high school sweetheart, Herbert, on Pearl Harbor Day, December 7, 1946. They celebrated their 76th Wedding Anniversary last December – truly a union of hearts.
They made their home in Flushing, where they raised two children. Lucille loved to sing and was a regular soloist at United Methodist Church, and at times, with the Brahm Ward Orchestra. As empty nesters, their cottage on the Tittabawassee River (Gladwin, MI) was a favorite weekend getaway with friends and family. Grandchildren fondly recall lazy rides on the "blue boat" as Seals and Crofts songs blared, and staying up late for marshmallow roasts on shore.
Lucille pioneered as a female purchasing agent at GM in Flint, MI where she retired after 30 years. In retirement, she and Herb moved to Gladwin for a few years before moving to Stuart, FL where they enjoyed the last 21 years forging new friendships. She served for a time as president of her local Hutchinson Island real estate board.
Lucille was an elegant lady of strength, creativity, grit, an accomplished cook, a romantic at heart in her love for all things beautiful. Very fashion forward in dress and home decor, Lucille enjoyed visits to Evelyn & Arthur and The Gate. She was an avid reader and could talk knowledgeably on a wide range of past and current subjects, and was a huge sports fan who favored University of Michigan football and PGA golf. Her music interests varied although partial to smooth jazz and the Big Band sound. Lucille played "spite and malice" card games with Herb at noon and before dinner. She enjoyed weekly dinners with "the regulars", girls' night out to play dominos, and attending live theater performances. Untiringly youthful, she willingly embraced new ideas like learning to use an iPad for email and internet searches and a smartphone for FB and texting, in her 80s.
Lucille was anything but cliché, truly authentic without guile. She cared deeply about her family and their welfare. She maintained enduring friendships that started in childhood and readily welcomed new friends, young and old, which crossed generations, and whom she welcomed into her heart as family. In caring about others, Lucille was interested in what interested them. And she keenly understood things change, such as the issues facing young families today in a world that is very different than when she worked and raised children, so she was thoughtful and caring in that way.
Lucille passed peacefully February 18 at home, surrounded by immediate family. She is survived by her devoted husband, Herbert, their son Rick (Judy), daughter Kay (Kevin), granddaughter Lindsay (Jay), grandson Chris (Vicki) and great grandchildren Nathan and Maisie, grand dogs Chewbacca and Ziggy, and a host of other beloved relatives and friends.
Lucille, a good woman... proof that "sometimes miracles are just good people with kind hearts." In the words of Irvin Berlin, "The song is ended but the melody lingers on...."