Raymond S. Cole Jr. , 91, US Army Veteran & Retired Electrician

He was born August 29, 1920 in Simpson, Pennsylvania. Ray was a member of the Civilian Conservation Corps. During World War II he served with the Army in the European Theater of War and then the Navy. He moved to Lorain in the late 1940’s.

Mr. Cole retired in 1982 as an electrician working out of the I. B. E. W. Local 129, Lorain. He worked in the trade for over 50 years. He was also a life member of the V. F. W. Post 1662, Amherst, AMVETS Post 55 in Sheffield Lake and the American Legion Post 30. Ray was a Shriner and member of the Black River Masonic Lodge #468 Lorain. He enjoyed hunting and fishing. He loved his beagles and all wild life.

Ray will be missed by his nieces Carol Zimmerman of Lorain and Lori Beam of Greenville, Georgia; nephews Ray Gray of Vermilion, Thomas Gray of Lorain and Donald Beam of Sheffield Lake.

He was preceded in death by his wife of 30 years Ruby Cole (née Johns) in 1991; parents Raymond S. and Mary Jane (née Holland) Cole; sisters Eleanor Gray, Jean Beam, Gladys Bukowski, June Gyorfi and Bertha and Virginia Cole in infantry; niece Judy Vogalsong and a dear friend Mary Agnes Fraley.

His family will receive friends Thursday from 6 to 8 PM in the Richard J. Reidy Funeral Home, 1783 east 31st Street, South Lorain (440) 277-8164, where Masonic Service will be Thursday evening at 7 pm. His funeral service will be Friday at 1 PM in the funeral home. Rev. Chuck Beherens of the Hospice of the Western Reserve will officiate. Burial will follow in Ridge Hill Memorial Park, Amherst Township. Amherst Military Honor Guard will conduct full military honors.

For further information and to sign the online register book, see Reidyfuneral.com.