Barbara Jean (Blain) Cole, age 94, died Monday, April 24, at the Allegan County Medical Care Community, where she had resided for the last several years.
Barbara was born in Grand Rapids on July 31, 1928, to Sam and Naomi Blain, who preceded her in death.
Barbara literally married the boy next door. She and Jack were neighbors and began dating after he returned home from his service in WW II. They were married 77 years ago on Nov. 13, 1946. She was a loving and devoted wife, mother and homemaker raising their children where they resided in Dorr.
She was a member of St. Mary’s Visitation Parish in New Salem, volunteering for many years with chicken and wild game dinners. She loved summers spent at their cottage on Dumont Lake where she became an expert at frying fish. She was also an avid reader and it was not uncommon for her to be in the midst of two or three books at the same time.
She loved to travel and visit different areas of the United States. She and Jack took many road trips after his retirement.
She is survived by her children John (Cheryl) Cole, Bill Cole, Becky (Bruce) Zimmerman, David (Linda) Cole, Sally Cole; 11 grandchildren; 25 great-grandchildren; four great-great-grandchildren; many nieces and nephews; and former daughter-in-law, Pam Cole, with whom she maintained a special relationship.
She was also preceded in death by her husband of 77 years, John; brother, Don Blain and his wife, Irene. Also preceding her were in-laws Ralph and Ida Cole, Bill and Leona Cole, Keith and Betty Cole, Marguerite (Sis) and Stan Coughlin; grandchildren Noah Cole and Jessica (Cole) Hallgren; as well as several nieces and nephews.
Visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m. Thursday, May 11, at Kubiak Cook Funeral Home, 4330 18th St., Dorr, with a Rosary starting at 6 p.m. The funeral will take place at 11 a.m. Friday, May 12 at St. Mary’s Visitation, 2459 146th Ave., SW, Byron Center.
In lieu of flowers the family ask that donations be made to Allegan County Medical Care Community at 3265 122nd Ave., Allegan, Mich. 49010.
