Elbert "Budgie" Cole

Elbert Burgess Cole Jr. died after an illness in Topeka on Saturday, February 12th, 2022 at the age of 83. E.B. was a man of many nicknames, but most knew him as Budge. Budge was born in Ludlow, Vermont on August 22, 1938 to Elbert Burgess and Hilda Marie Cole. He was one of six children.

Budge graduated high school in June 1956 from Wallingford High "Foxes" Wallingford, Vermont. In September 1956, he enlisted in the United States Air Force. He attended basic training at Lackland Air Force Base, Texas and technical school at Amarillo AFB, Texas as a Jet Engine Mechanic. He was assigned on February 1, 1957 to Schilling Air Force Base, Salina, Kansas as a member of the 310th Bomb Wing of the Strategic Air Command equipped with B 47 bombers.

While stationed at Schilling, he met Julia Ann O'Bryan and married August 25th, 1959, at Schilling Air Force Base.

While at Schilling, he was asked to convert to the Crew Chief position to fill a unit need. He qualified in minimum time. During his assignment there, he deployed for many assignments of temporary duty both in the states and overseas. He was honorably discharged in September 1960 as an Airman First Class.

Budge, Julia, and son Gordon moved to Vermont where he worked for Vermont Marble Company, in Proctor, Vermont. However, by 1962 Julia was homesick, so they made their way back to Kansas where he went to work for Boeing Aircraft Corporation in Wichita with Julia's father. He worked there only five months when they laid him off just before Christmas 1962.

He joined the 127th Fighter Squadron, Air National Guard in Wichita, Kansas as a recruit of long time friend, John Annett. When the 190th Tac Recon Group was formed in 1963 he became one of its Charter Members and voluntarily moved there as a full time Crew Chief at Hutchinson Naval Air Station, KS. The unit was flying the RB-57A aircraft, and he crewed two of these at the same time.

When the unit moved to Forbes AFB, Topeka in 1967, he moved his wife and two boys and established a home for them in Topeka. He was promoted to Master Sergeant and held a variety of positions including Crew Chief and Dock Chief. He was eventually assigned as Superintendent of Field Maintenance Branch of the Maintenance Squadron and promoted to Senior Master Sergeant. During that time the unit converted into three different missions and aircraft within the next 10 years. He was promoted to Chief Master Sergeant when the unit was equipped with the KC135 aircraft in 1978 and designated the 190th Air Refueling Wing.

Chief Cole deployed to many locations around the world in support of this mission. His final appointment was activation for Operation Desert Shield and Desert Storm in Jeddah Saudi Arabia from November 1990 to March 1991. After this assignment, he was awarded a Bronze Star Medal for his exemplary leadership in accomplishing a difficult and record setting mission.
Chief Cole retired in October 1995 after dedicated service covering much of five decades. Among his many awards were the Bronze Star Medal, the Meritorious Service Medal and the Air Force Commendation Medal.

Budge was a dedicated Military husband and father, but he was also a dedicated neighbor and friend, a man of many skills. He was a "Do it Yourselfer" before "DIY" existed. He was a builder, a craftsman, woodworker, automobile restorer, mechanic of cars, motorcycles, jet engines, small engines, a mason, an auto painter, and a collector, doing all to perfection. He was often the neighborhood repair man, whether it be washers and dryers, plumbing, cars, bicycles, motorcycles, masonry, snow removal, pulling your car out of the ditch, you name it, he would lend a helping hand and fix it.

After retiring, Budge enjoyed working at his son Bryan's auto body and motorcycle shops. His popularity grew amongst the customers and crew as he became known as "Pops".

Budge enjoyed being outdoors on his tractor or gardening and to always be moving. He enjoyed swap meets, teaching others how to DIY, watching professional football, KU basketball, reading and learning. Most of all Budge loved visiting with family and friends and being with his wife and kids, grandchildren and great grandchildren.

Budge is survived by his four children; Gordon "Gordie" (Shirley) Cole, Bryan (Carrie) Cole, Sean (James) Nelson and Ellie Cole. Four grandchildren; Gordon Lee (Amanda) Cole, Summer, Amber (DeShawn) Cole and Shellsea (Andrew) Martin. Five great-grandchildren; Michael, Alexis, Annabelle, Charli Grace, and Beckam. Five siblings; Katrine (Holly) Dutton, Marvin and (Janet) Cole, Mary (Tom) Weeks, Robert, and Betty (Dex) Bostock, three God Children; Tim, Troy and Tonia Annett, and many Nieces and Nephews.

He is preceded in death by his wife Julia Ann O'Bryan.

Funeral Service will be at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, February 25, 2022 at Dove Cremations & Funerals Southwest Chapel, 3700 SW Wanamaker Road, Topeka, KS 66610. The family will greet friends an hour prior to service time. Burial with military honors will be at Pleasant Hill Cemetery following the service.

Elbert's services will be livestreamed at the scheduled service time.Click Here

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