George Marion Cole, “Boppa,” died on July 6, surrounded by his family, from complications following a stroke. He was 81.
His last words to Barbara, his wife of 52 years, were, “The Mariners won.”
A Bainbridge Island resident for more than 45 years, he was born in 1927 in Snoqualmie Falls to Rose and Clarence “Smokey” Cole. A lumberjack’s son, he spent most of his life in Kelso, Wash., until he was drafted into the Army during the waning days of World War II. He was stationed in Germany and proudly served in the infantry during the occupation of Berlin. Germany would have a profound effect on the 19-year-old soldier; it was there that he found inspiration and passion in German culture, language, arts, and literature.
After the war, he attended Lower Columbia Community College in Longview, Wash. before being accepted to Yale University. He earned a B.S. in mechanical engineering and graduated in 1951. His connection to Yale would last a lifetime; he acted as a regional recruitment officer for more than 30 years.
After a stint as a draftsman in Arkansas, George returned to Seattle, took a job at Shell Oil, and joined the company softball team. The official scorekeeper, a cute brunette from the accounting department and the only woman in the dugout, was Barbara Shaw.
Barbara and George were married at St. Marks Cathedral in Seattle during the famous blizzard of November 1955. The young couple moved to Washington D.C., where George worked as an examiner in the U.S. Patent Office and attended law school. He earned his law degree from American University in 1959.
George practiced patent and copyright law in Seattle from 1959 until he retired in 1988. He was active in the Seattle Patent Law Association and brought his legal skills back to Bainbridge, serving four years as Traffic Court Judge in Winslow. An avid writer, George authored five manuscripts and a play. His novel, “Ragged Regiment,” about a group of rear echelon engineers called to the front during the Battle of the Bulge, was published in 1981. He was also an ardent reader and especially enjoyed German writers like Thomas Mann and Heinrich Böll – in their native tongue, of course.
Though George enjoyed work, reading and writing, family was always a huge part of his life. He was easily persuaded by his children to do things he wouldn’t normally do – like becoming the President of the Bainbridge Island Saddle Club, or writing dozens of articles on youth sports for the Bainbridge Review.
As a father, he sat through endless swim meets, horse shows and baseball games. As a grandfather, his talent for soothing babies was always in demand.
George enjoyed Mariners baseball, the Seattle Seahawks (or Hee-Hawks, as he called the team), and good-naturedly haranguing his sons-in-law. With a strong cup of coffee, a maple bar and either a crossword puzzle or something to read, he was happy for hours. He never met a pie he didn’t like, and he was known to drive an hour for rhubarb.
He was an active member of the Bainbridge Island Senior Center, umpiring the Senior Center softball games and calling Bingo on Fridays.
George is survived by his wife, Barbara; daughters Valerie Cole Kelley (Chris) of Edmonds, Lauran Cole Warner (Eric) of Enumclaw, and Georgia Cole of Hansville; and son Bryan Cole (Erin O’Hara) of New York City. Three of his siblings also survive him, Harry Cole of Seattle; Clarice Wilson of Kirkland; and Fred Cole of Jacksonville, Fla.
Boppa will also be greatly missed by his eight grandchildren, Marshall, Holly, Bryn, Wyatt, Cole, Quinn, Rose and Opal, and many adored nieces and nephews.
A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. July 27 at Grace Episcopal Church, 8595 NE Day Rd. Because of floral sensitivities, please do not send flowers.
Remembrances can be made to the Bainbridge Island Senior Center, 370 Brien Dr. Bainbridge Island, WA 98110.
