William “Bill” Harvey Cole, 99, passed away peacefully at home on Saturday, October 11, surrounded by his loving family. Bill was born on June 11, 1926, in the sleepy southern town of Littleton, NC, to father Thomas Walton Cole and mother Annie Harvey Cole. He was the youngest of six children. Growing up, he loved playing sports with his identical twin brother, Ray, and they formed a life-long, inseparable bond. He graduated from Littleton High School in 1945 and was immediately drafted into the United States Navy for World War II. After his service in the Navy, he attended Wake Forest University, where he graduated in 1950 with a degree in Business. At Wake Forest, he was a founding member of the local chapter of the Sigma Chi fraternity. Upon graduating, he was drafted into the US Army for the Korean War. He often referred to his time in the US Military as the years that he got to see the world. He proudly served three years before being honorably discharged and moving to Richmond, Virginia. He happily lived in Richmond for ten years, obtaining jobs in banking and accounting, while attending graduate school at the University of Richmond at night, graduating in 1961 with a Master’s in Accounting and Finance. While living in Richmond, he also met his most precious and loving wife, Betty Reedy Cole, and they enjoyed sixty-one years of marriage until her passing in July 2023.
Bill moved to Newport News in 1964 to begin working as an Auditor for the Defense Contract Audit Agency, working there for twenty-seven years until his retirement in 1991. Bill always invested in his community and was a devout Christian. Upon moving to this area, he found a church home at Denbigh United Presbyterian Church, where he and his wife, Betty, were among the earliest members. For over fifty years, Bill served the church faithfully and held various roles, including deacon and elder, and was always willing to help the church in any way possible. After retirement, Bill continued to find fulfillment in the church and enjoyed volunteering his time working with Tax Counseling for the elderly and Peninsula Thrive Food Band.
Bill was tireless in his devotion to his family, and much of his retirement was spent helping to care for his siblings in their declining years.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Betty Cole, his brothers, Tom Cole, Ray Cole, and Jim Cole, and his sisters, Maxine Landing and Marilyn Dennis.
Left to cherish his memory is son Thomas Cole (Catherine) of Williamsburg, VA, grandson William Kevin Cole of Williamsburg VA, nephew Frank Dennis of Norfolk, niece Anne Russell (Tony) of Virginia Beach, niece Elizabeth Panchik (Joe) of Virginia Beach, nephew Dr. John Cole (Lois) of New Orleans, and niece Dr. Natalie Cole of New Orleans along with numerous other extended family members, all of whom he was extremely proud.
He was a constant source of support and guidance for his family, and they will forever cherish the love and encouragement he gave them.
A funeral service will be held on Friday, October 24, at 11:30 a.m. at Denbigh United Presbyterian Church. Interment will follow at 1:00 p.m. at Peninsula Memorial Park.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests expressions of sympathy take the form of contributions to Denbigh United Presbyterian Church.
Arrangements are under the care of Peninsula Funeral Home.
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Tom, Catherine, and Will. We were so sorry to hear about Bill’s passing. He truly lived a full and inspiring life — it always amazed me how much energy and spirit he had, even well into his later years. I have such warm memories of him and Betty; they were both such wonderful people and such an important part of our family story. Please know that we are keeping you and your family close in our hearts right now.