David Lee Cole

David Lee Cole, resident of Albuquerque, NM, and son of Robert Melvin Cole and Mary Etta Deluder Cole, was born November 27, 1951 in Belington, West Virginia. David passed away on June 1, 2018 at the age of 66. He is the youngest of three sons, including Lloyd and Robert Cole. He always spoke with the highest regard for his hard working parents who set an example of ingenuity, self-reliance and compassion for others that he carried with him throughout his life. Upon graduation from school in Belington, he served in the Army where he was deployed to Viet Nam. David was a proud veteran who expressed that his time in the service not only exposed him to many great people with whom he served, but that the experience helped shaped much of who he became.

Upon returning home from Viet Nam, David worked odd jobs traveling around in his infamous van, meeting various friends along the way. He landed a job at Ohio Power where he met Mary Bajornas, with whom he fell in love and married June 3, 1978. This union was blessed with two daughters, Shannon and Abigail.

Eventually moving out to New Mexico, David retired after 31 years at Sandia National Laboratories as a Team Leader for the Explosives Applications Department where he made countless important friendships. In his free time, David was known to love being outdoors, camping and hiking, sitting in front of campfires, laughing and telling stories. He enjoyed motorcycle riding, golfing and baking delicious desserts. Among his proudest accomplishments are building a log cabin home in Edgewood, NM, being a dedicated family man to his wife of 40 years, a loving father and grand-father, and remaining committed to the simple pleasures of life.

His jovial spirit and infectious smile will be missed by all. The world may feel a little darker with his passing, but David would undoubtedly encourage us to go out and burn all the brighter in his absence.

David will be forever cherished in the lives of his wife: Mary Cole; his children: Shannon Reeves and husband Ryan, Abigail Cole and husband William Collier; his grand-children Miles, Penelope and Liberty; brothers Lloyd and Robert Cole, and a host of loving extended family and countless friends.

Memorial service to be held at 9:30 a.m. on June 16th, 2018 at the Spaulding Residence: 17 Alta Ct Edgewood NM, 87015

Please contact family members at cole.abbyk@ gmail.com with any further inquiries.