Richard Herman Cole (Papaw), 81 of Centre Hall, PA passed away, Wednesday, December 7, 2011 at Mt. Nittany Medical Center.
He was born March 2, 1930 in North Woodstock, Maine to Herman and Flora Cole. He married Margaret H. Dalbey on December 18, 1953 who resides in Centre Hall.
Dick graduated from Woodstock High School in 1948. In 1952 he graduated from the University of Maine with a degree in agronomy. From 1952 to 1954 he served in the US Army. After serving in the Army Dick worked as an extension agent in Massachusetts. He came to State College and started graduate school in 1955. In 1960 he received a PhD in Agronomy. He moved his young family to Newark, Delaware and worked for the University of Delaware for about 10 years as a teacher and a plant science researcher specializing in soybeans. After a year with CIBA-Geigy, he joined the Agronomy staff at Penn State. He later worked in horticulture with extension agents as a potato specialist and traveled to India, the Bahamas and Swaziland.
Dick retired in 1991to spend time with his grandchildren and enjoy his summers at his farmhouse in Maine. Dick had a passion growing up and into his adult years for music. He was an accomplished square and contra dance caller and was a member of square dance and contra dance bands though the 1980's. He played banjo, guitar and harmonica. During his retirement he attended many Penn State and Bellefonte athletic events.
In addition to his wife of 57 years he is survived by his four children, Elizabeth Irwin of Bellefonte and her four children, Kate and fiance Bill Weaver, Kristin, Robbie and Christopher; Richard Cole of Palmyra, his wife Patricia, and their three children Bridget, Timothy and Kevin; Constance Ritchie of Christiansburg, VA and her husband Denny and their two children Charles and Jefferson; Martha Hoff and her husband Brian of York Springs, and their three children Elizabeth and husband Nathan Miller, Charles and Nathan.
He is a member of St. Johns Union Church in Farmers Mills and was the Lutheran treasurer for many years. He was a member of the Bryant Pond Maine Grange Lodge #124 for 67 years a member of the Grand Lodge, A.F. & A.M. #100 in Bryant Pond, ME. He also was a member of many other organizations, fraternities and clubs.
A public visitation will be held on Friday, December 9, 2011 from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at Mark D. Heintzelman Funeral and Cremation Service, 226 S. Pennsylvania Ave. Centre Hall. Additional visiting hours will be at the St. Johns Union Church in Farmers Mills from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a. m. on Saturday, December 10, 2011. The funeral service will follow at 11:00 a.m. at the church, with the Reverend Nathan Pile officiating. A fellowship lunch will follow immediately after the service.
In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to the HOPE fund of Penns Valley, P.O. Box 427, Centre Hall, PA 16828; or to St. Johns Lutheran Church, 296 Ridge Road, Spring Mills, PA 16875
Online condolences at www.heintzelmanfuneralhome.com