Robert Cole Obituary

ROBERT BRUCE COLE
March 29, 1943 - December 5, 2024
"Bruce", as his family called him, passed away on December 5, 2024, due to complications from Immunotherapy for cancer. He was buried at Ft. Sam Houston Cemetery in San Antonio, Texas, after a private service.
Bruce was born on March 29, 1943, at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, to Lt. Col. Robert George Cole and Allie Mae Wilson Cole, both born and raised in San Antonio. His father served in the 82nd Brigade, 502nd Parachute Infantry, 101st Airborne Division and was the recipient of the Medal of Honor for his actions during WW II. Lt. Col. Cole was a 1939 graduate of The U.S. Military Academy at West Point. Although Bruce was exempt from the draft during the Vietnam era as the only child of a MOH recipient, he chose to serve in the United States Marine Corps and entered military service at Quantico, Virginia.

Bruce completed college in 1965 with a BBA in Accounting from Texas Christian University. He worked for several years in the Texas State Auditor's office as a CPA, then opted to work for the U.S. Department of Interior Fish & Wildlife Service as a representative of the Cooperative Animal Damage Control Program. He later briefly worked for Frost Bank. He "retired" early to live on and run the family ranch in Bulverde, Texas, which is now a large part of Centennial Ridge Development in Bulverde.

He loved his family, the military, history, nature and wildlife, and Texas. He also had a life-long devotion to his mother and his father's story. He was able to finally visit his father's grave at the Netherlands American Cemetery in Margraten, Netherlands in 2009. Bruce's wish was for his father's service and sacrifice to be remembered. He gave his father's Purple Heart medal to the Robert G. Cole Middle and High School located at Fort Sam Houston. It was his hope to inspire the students to emulate "Duty, Honor, Country", the Military Academy at West Point motto.

A Celebration of Life will be held in the fall. If interested in attending, please contact Porter Loring Mortuary in San Antonio via their website at porterloring.com

His family extends their sincere thanks to the doctors, nurses, and staff at Methodist Hospital Stone Oak for their diligent and compassionate care of our brother. Thanks, also, to the medical staff at Bulverde/Spring Branch Well Med Clinic for their support.

Memorials may be given to Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery, USO, Fisher House, other Military or Veteran organizations, or a charity of your choice.

Survivors include his sisters Claudia Langford (Mark), San Antonio, Texas, and Cynthia Beall Suich (Dennis), Columbia, Mo.; step-brother, Lt. Col. Marshall D. Beall, Salt Lake City, Utah; cousins Pat Booker, Austin, Texas, and Cathy Beyer, Lomita, Calif.; niece Carthy Shelton, Austin, Texas, and nephew Trevor Suich, Denver, Colo.; niece Amy Beall Hawkins, niece Allison Beall Allen, both of Salt Lake City, Utah; several great-nieces and great-nephews; and many lifelong friends.

You are invited to sign the Guestbook at www.porterloring.com

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