Ernest (E.O.) Otis Cole

REV. ERNEST OTIS (E.O.) COLE passed away at 12:05 a.m. on January 19, 2017 at Jefferson Memorial Hospital following an extended illness. He was born in 1921 to Ms. Roberta Miller of Mount Villa, AL. Partially raised by his grandmother, they came to McRoberts, KY and later moved to Weeksburg, KY where he finished grade school and finished high school in Wheelwright, KY in 1938. Once he graduated from high school, he followed his grandfather’s and uncle’s footsteps going into the coal mines of Caretta, WV. Ernest was called into the Army in 1941 and left home to fight in WWII. After his tour was over, he came back to Caretta, WV, where he met his lovely wife, Geneva Swain, and they were married in 1946. He began his ministry in 1950 in the Kentucky/West Virginia Conference. He finished his course of study in 1955 and was ordained an Elder by Bishop Edgar A. Love. Ernest is married to the lovely Mrs. Geneva Cole, whom he met in Caretta, WV and has been married now for 70 years. He is preceded in death by a brother, James Cole, Sr.; his oldest son, Uyless E. Cole; step-son, Joseph Hardy; son-in-law, William C. Horton, Sr. He leaves behind his loving wife; two sons, Otis Cole, Sr. and Ronnie Cole, Sr.; three daughters, Anna J. Horton, Sharon Ann Riddles, and his devoted baby girl, Diane M. Whiteside; also a devoted son-in-law, Buford F. Whiteside; a host of grandchildren, great grandchildren; and a nephew, James Cole, Jr. Ernest has been in the ministry for over 55 years, proclaiming the Word of God and bringing souls to Jesus. He has had his share of life’s ups and downs, but has always prevailed with the Lord by his side. He was a proud man, a strong man, a family man, and a man with a conviction of the Holy Spirit and a true crusader in Christ. Just as Paul the Apostle, he fought a good fight, he kept the faith, and there is a reward laid up for him. The family would like to give a special thanks and appreciation to the caregivers at Life Care of Jefferson City for the wonderful, loving care they have shown their father through the time he was there. Funeral service will be held at 12:00 noon on Saturday, January 28, 2017 at Farrar Funeral Home with Rev. Nathaniel Wilson and Rev. Andrew Smith officiating. Graveside interment will follow the service at Westview Cemetery with military honors by VFW #5266. The family will receive friends from 11:00 a.m. until 12:00 noon prior to the funeral service. ARRANGEMENTS BY FARRAR FUNERAL HOME IN JEFFERSON CITY, TN 865-475-3892