More detail on this person: I wanted to pass on
to you the obituary information about Gene Cole
who passed away on 19 February 2017. Gene was
in Flight School Class 69-24. He had two tours in
Vietnam, first as an enlisted soldier in the
infantry and his second as an aviator. He went on
to have a great Army career in aviation and
retired as a full Colonel. I worked with Gene
after we both retired and I tried to get him to
join the VHPA, but he never did, that I know of.
Below is his obituary. This information was last updated 04/01/2017
Please send additions or corrections to: HQ@vhpa.org VHPA Headquarters
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Date posted on this site:
11/02/2023
Copyright © 1998 - 2023 Vietnam Helicopter Pilots Association
From: Jerry P. Coffman
COL Gene West Cole, U.S. Army retired, 74, went
home to be with Jesus on Sunday, February 19,
2017. Gene was a native of Danville and had been a
Peninsula resident for over 20 years. He retired
as an Aviator Airborne Ranger after 30 years from
the United States Army.
Gene was a member of Liberty Baptist Church,
where he faithfully served with the SBCV Disaster
Relief and the Baptist Global Response Team. He
was a member of the VFW and the Lafayette Gun
Club.
He is survived by his wife Alana Cole; two
children, Shannon Cole Dennis and her husband
Scott of Jamestown, NC, and Bryan West Cole and
his wife Bridget of Newport News; five
grandchildren, Walker Dennis, Riley Cole, Evelyn
Dennis, Kellan Cole and Finley Cole; and two
brothers, Charles Cole of Lynchburg and John Cole
of Richmond.
Visitation will be from 2 to 3 PM Tuesday,
February 21, 2017 at Liberty Baptist Church, with
a funeral service immediately following at 3 PM
with Pastor Joe Hunt officiating. A graveside
service will be held at 2 PM Wednesday, February
22, 2017 at Aaron's Creek Baptist Church in
Virgilina, Virginia.
Memorial donations may be made to the Baptist
Global Response Team at https://gobgr.org and
choose disaster response - donate, or mail your
memorial donation to Baptist Global Response,
P.O. Box 930507, Atlanta, GA 31193-0507.