Obituary: Cole, Roger W.
Age 80
After receiving his GED after high school he and his high school buddy joined the USMC and they went to Korea for 18 months in the first Marine Division and he the opted for an early discharge and returned to Addy, WA, where he grew up.
It was too hard to find work so he moved to Spokane where he re-met an old high school friend and they were married in late 1956 and they had two boys, Tim and Mike.
The marriage broke up in 1965.
Roger started commercial building construction and as he traveled for work, he met his most recent wife Bonnie.
She asked him to dance one too many times and they have been dancing almost 50 years come September, 2015.
Bonnie and Roger have two daughters: Becki and Michelle.
Becki is married to Mohammed Deeb and they have three daughters: Najla, Jaclyn and Hannah.
Michelle is married to Chris Rathbone and they have a son: Nicholas, and and daughters: Jessika and Shelbie as well as one foster daughter: Alexandria Rose.
Roger and Bonnie both retired in 2000.
They began traveling the western United States in their motor home with the main purpose being to fish.
After gas became a travel issue, they stayed annually at many lakes around Spokane.
In April, 2005 Roger was diagnosed with left sided lung cancer and required removal of part of his left lung.
His 70th birthday party was in the hospital, but all was great because the surgery was a success (no cancer).
Roger was then diagnosed with small cell lung cancer on the right lung, June, 2013.
After two years of radiation and chemo it was a losing battle and Roger passed on, Friday, July 24, 2015 at Hospice House.
Visitation will be Thursday, July 30 from 2-7pm with Vigil services beginning at 7pm, at Holy Cross Cemetery and Funeral Center Chapel, 7200 N. Wall St., Spokane.
Funeral Mass will be Friday, July 31, at 10 am and will be celebrated at St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church, 545 E. Providence, Spokane, WA with committal to follow at Holy Cross Cemetery.
Memorial contributions are suggested to The American Cancer Society.
Arrangements have been entrusted to: