In 2 Samuel 3:38, when David spoke of the death
of Abner, he said, "Know ye not that there is a prince and
a great man fallen this day in Israel?" I am writing this
article to announce to our readers that on Sunday, July 18, another
"Ab" - a prince and a great man in the church - died
in the Lord. His name was Albert Ray "Ab" Cole. The
following obituary was read at brother Cole's memorial services
by brother Mike Reese at the Mannington church of Christ building
on Wednesday, July 21.
"Albert Ray 'Ab' Cole, 83, of Mannington
passed away Sunday (July 18, 2004) at his residence. He was born
January 28, 1921 at Hope Hill in Rachel. He was the son of the
late Ira W. Cole and Fanny C. Dent Cole. He married Phyllis Jean
Toothman Cole on January 28, 1943 and (they) shared a life together
for 61 years. He served as an elder for the Mannington church
of Christ and preached the Gospel on several occasions at nearby
congregations. He retired from Phillips Tool Company of Mannington
and also worked for First Exchange Bank of Mannington during his
retirement. He served his country in the U.S. Army Armored Force
Division during World War II.
"Among his many talents and accomplishments,
Ab was a licensed pilot and auctioneer. He spent several years
traveling around the United States building church buildings for
Continental Church Builders. Ab was a talented musician and comedian,
performing with Stoney and Wilma Lee Cooper and the Clinch Mountain
Clan throughout the northeastern United States and Canada. He
performed several times on the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville, Tennessee.
He was president of the Country Music Concert Association and
also conducted a country-western music program on Saturday mornings
on WMMN Fairmont where he was best known as 'The Plum Run Redhead.'
Ab enjoyed woodworking, music, and hunting.
"In addition to his wife, Jean, he is survived
by his son, Merle 'Pete' Cole and wife, Pamela Cheryl Cole, of
Smithfield; a granddaughter, Christy Anne Swick and husband, Shane
Swick, of Fairmont; a grandson, Peter Ray Cole and wife, Amantha
Cole, of Fairview; two great-grandchildren, Joslyn and Gabriel
Swick; a sister, Bethel Yost Lough of Mannington; and several
nieces and nephews. In addition to his parents, he was preceded
in death by brothers Glen Cole, Carl Cole, and Charles Cole."
When we began publishing the West Virginia
Christian, in 1993, brother Ab Cole was one of our strongest
encouragers. He was also one of the first ones along with Warren
Kenney to encourage us to begin conducting an annual lectureship
in conjunction with the paper. Our first lectureship, in 2000,
was overseen by the Mannington church of Christ elders and directed
by brother Mike Reese. The theme was "Thus Saith The Lord."
It was a wonderful beginning.
A quote from "A Statement From The Elders"
in that first lectureship book set the tone: "Woe to this
crooked and perverse generation whose children devour one another
with their words, knives, and guns; who have no respect for the
powers over them, for each other, or even themselves. We of the
'Churches of Christ' firmly believe the answer to this country's
woes is a return to a 'Thus Saith The Lord!' God's word has all
the answers if we will but humble ourselves and submit to His
Will that is plainly taught in the Bible."
We thank God for the life of Ab Cole. We rejoice
in his hope in the Lord. Our sincere Christian sympathies and
prayers are offered for his wife, Jean, and all of his family.
His son, Merle "Pete," is an elder at Mannington, and
his grandson, Peter Ray, is the preacher at the Washington Street
church of Christ, Fairview, WV.