Lawrence E. Cole

Lawrence E. Cole, 83 of Berryton died peacefully at his home on Monday, April 12, 2004. He was born June 7, 1920 in Richland, Ks. the oldest son of Art and Flora Gress Cole. He graduated from Berryton High School in 1938 and was a Tech Sgt. in the Army Air Corp as an airplane mechanic serving in Italy during WWII. He farmed in Richland and Overbrook until 1958. He moved from Topeka to Berryton in 1970. He retired from Goodyear in 1975 after 17 years to continue farming. He was a man whose hands worked both land and wood. He built several buildings including the home in which he lived. He was preceded in death by his brother; Ervin A. Cole. He married Dolly Joe Luscombe on May 16, 1948 in Topeka. She survives. Other survivers include five daughters; Martha Cole of Berryton, Karen Sewell and her husband, Thomas of Independence, Ks., Susan Berry, Judy Cole and her companion Ronald Peoples and Jennifer Cole all of Topeka, three granddaughters, six grand-sons and two great-grandsons, one brother; Wilbur L. Cole of Pomona and one sister; Arlene V. Zima of Topeka. Services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday at Berryton United Methodist Church. Burial will follow in Pleasant Hill Cemetery southeast of Topeka. Mr. Cole will lie in state after 1:00 p.m. Tuesday at Penwell-Gabel Highland Chapel where the family will receive friends from 7:00-8:30 p.m. Memorial contributions may be given to the Berryton United Methodist Church Building Fund, 7010 S.E. Berryton Rd., Berryton, Ks. 66409 or to Heartland Hospice of Topeka, 1033 S.W. Gage Blvd., Topeka, Kansas 66604. Online condolences may be given to the family at www.penwellgabel.com.