William Cole, Class of 1954

William “Bill” Cole, ‘54 died Sept. 13, 2021. Bill was born Sept. 13, 1927 to the late Charles and Millie Cole. After serving in the US Coast Guard, Bill graduated from Otterbein College with a BA in Business Administration. During his time at Otterbein, Bill was a part of the football team, track and field, and was a member of the Leather Helmet Gang, the “O” Club, and Pi Kappa Phi (Country Club) fraternity. Bill was active in the Otterbein community, and he was very proud to donate and help develop the Cole Victory Bell at the Otterbein athletic fields. The bell came from the family church in Tiro originally and then spent many years on the family farm in Tiro. Bill belonged to the VFW post 171, the Westerville Kiwanis Club and the Westerville Blendon Masonic Lodge, and he was a long-time member of the Church of the Master, Westerville Ohio from 1954 until his death.

Bill was preceded in death by his parents Charles and Millie Cole, wife Barbara Seabrook Cole ’54 and sister Irene Long.
He is survived by his 4 children, Melissa Oakes, Jonathan (Donna) Cole, Megan (Rod) Mitchell, and Jeanne Egler (Jack Weaver). 10 Grandchildren, Amanda Oakes, Mitchell Oakes, Will (Amanda) Cole, Julie (Andrew)Springer, Charles (Emily) Mitchell, Renee (Bruce) Robinson, Jacob Egler, Sophia (Robert Bailey) Egler, Sarah (Rohan Sathe) Egler, and Harrison Egler. 8 great grandchildren, Evelyn Cole, Rose Springer, Simon Springer, Paxton Mitchell, Joesph (Savannah) Mitchell, Caiden Mitchell, Ellison Mitchell, Liam Mitchell and their mother, Nicole Mitchell.