LARNED — William J. (Bill) Cole, 65, died Jan. 6, 2012, at his home in Larned.
He was born March 21, 1946, at Larned, the son of A.E. and Drusilla Post Cole. 
A lifetime area resident, he was the Pawnee Co-op Service Station manager and was retired from the Larned State Hospital after 21 years. He was a member of the First Southern Baptist Church and was a former Larned city council member, both of Larned.
On April 17, 1998, he married Jean McCune in Dodge City.  She survives.
Other survivors include: three sons, William J. Cole Jr. Topeka; Brian Erb, Great Bend; Ralph E. Hudson, Manhattan; three daughters, Ellen Mae Benedict, Topeka; Caci Sandman, Larned; Summer Azam, Bloomington, Ill.; a brother, Darrell Cole, Sherman, Texas; two sisters, Sharon Larsen, Larned; Carolyn Arnold, Great Bend; 14 grandchildren and two great grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by two brothers, Harley and Frank; and three sisters, Phyllis Kelly, Diane Armbruster and Gwendolyn Sharp.
A Funeral Service is scheduled at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, Jan. 10 at the Beckwith Mortuary Chapel, Larned, with Pastor Mark Slattery presiding. Visitation is scheduled from 1 p.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday and 9 a.m. to 8p .m. Monday at Beckwith Mortuary.  Burial will be at the Larned Cemetery.
Memorials may be sent to Bill’s Grandchildren’s Educational Fund, or the Basic Cancer Research, at Kansas State University,  in care if Beckwith Mortuary, Box 477 Larned, Ks 67550.
Condolences may be left at www.beckwithmortuary.com.

Funeral arrangements provided by
Beckwith Mortuary *
P.O. Box 477
Larned, KS 67550
Great Bend (Kan) Tribune, Jan. 8, 2012