Pete Cole

Peter W. “Pete” Cole, 73, of Liberty Center, died Friday, March 30, 2012 at his home, surrounded by family members. A leader in major Wells County governmental actions for more than 30 years, Pete was born in New York, N.Y., on January 28, 1939, to Claude Wayne and Pauline Allayne (Lebowitz) Cole. He had resided in Liberty Center since 1948 and was a graduate of Liberty Center High School. He graduated from Purdue University with honors and with a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemical Engineering. He attained a Master’s Degree in Finance from Ball State University. Pete had been a member of Wells County Council since first elected as a Republican in 1980 and had been president of that governing body since January of 1989. He served on the 11-member building committee for the Wells County Council on Aging/Senior Citizen Building project in 1993. During the 1970s he served a term on the Southern Wells Community Schools Board of Trustees. He was a former member of the Liberty Center Lions Club, Bluffton Elks Lodge and Bluffton Kiwanis Club. He attended the Warren Church of Christ. A veteran of the U.S. Air Force, Pete spent three years with the Strategic Air Command, attaining the rank of first lieutenant. He was a ROTC commander during his time at Purdue. He was a licensed pilot and a registered professional engineer. Pete was retired as an executive with PHD Inc. in Fort Wayne and Huntington and had previously served 19 years at the Corning Glass facility in Bluffton as a plant engineer and maintenance supervisor. On Feb. 4, 1963, Pete was married to Melba N. Valentin in Carson City, Nevada. In addition to his wife, he is survived by three children, Elizabeth Ann (Robert C. ) Koehne of Indianapolis; Matthew Wayne (Jessica M.) Cole of Indianapolis and Christopher Allen (Lora M.) Cole, also of Indianapolis. Other survivors include eight grandchildren, R. Cameron Koehne, Kyle A. Koehne, Adam C. Turvey, Clayton M. Cole, Madeline C. Cole, Coen R. Cole, Alayna C. Cole and Griffin W. Cole. Also surviving is a brother, David (Lari) Cole of Roanoke, Indiana. He was preceded in death by a sister, Janet A. Cole. Calling will be held Tuesday from 2 to 8 p.m. at Thoma/Rich, Chaney & Lemler Funeral Home. A Service of Remembrance and Celebration will be held at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday at the funeral home with Certified Celebrant Jeff Lemler and Mayor Ted Ellis officiating. Entombment will in the Cole Family Mausoleum at Fairview Cemetery with military graveside rites by American Legion Post 111 Honor Guard and the U.S. Air Force. Memorials may be made in Pete’s memory to the Wells County Foundation.

Pete Cole

January 28, 1939 - March 30, 2012