Theodore R. Cole

Theodore Ray (Ted) Cole, a long-time resident of Los Alamos, passed away Monday, February 9, 2009 with all his children at his side at Los Alamos Medical Center. Ted was born in New Castle, Colorado on December 16, 1926, the second of three children. He graduated and left high school early to enter military service for the Navy in World War II and served as a waist gunner in a PBY rescue aircraft in the South Pacific. After active service, he served in the reserves until 1954. He attended college at Colorado A&M in Ft. Collins and Colorado State in Greeley, Colorado and was a member of the Sigma Nu Fraternity. He moved to Los Alamos in 1951 with his wife, Marthanne, and growing family, to work at the Los Alamos Scientific Laboratory. In a career that lasted almost 40 years he was a Design Architect. One of his last projects was the Ground Test Accelerator facility and involved a mound of dirt that that came to be affectionately known as Cole Mountain. Throughout his life in Los Alamos he was sought after as an independent home designer leaving his mark in many peoples homes in the community. He was a member of Trinity on the Hill Episcopal Church, served on the parish Vestry, and led and participated in many building projects as the church grew and expanded. He was actively involved in the noon-time Kiwanis club and was instrumental in many of their projects around the community. In retirement, he enjoyed building custom cabinets and furniture with long-time friend John Taylor. Throughout his life he enjoyed backpacking, fishing, camping, hunting and photography. Ted was preceeded in death by his parents Helen and Harry Cole and a younger brother, Harry Jr. He is survived by his children, Thad Cole and his wife Harriet of Tempe, Arizona; Marta Jones and fiancé Gary Lessard of Cedar Crest, New Mexico; Lisa Yost and her husband Craig of Jemez Springs, New Mexico; and Emily Duensing and her husband Dan of Overland Park, Kansas; and his sister, Betty Arthur of New Castle, Colorado. Grandchildren include Erika Reed, Kirstin Martin, Megan Urban, Paul Ahearne, Stephanie Caben, Nicole Williams, Todd Yost, Justin Sanchez, Cole and Scott Duensing. Nieces and Nephews include: Kathi Arthur of Silt, Colorado and Tammi Whitaker or Craig, Colorado. Ted was blessed with 10.66 great-grandchildren, five great nieces and nephews, and five great-great nieces and nephews. Ted will be remembered for his service to his church and community, and his fierce love for his family and friends. He will be missed by many. A memorial service will be held on Friday February 13th at 11:00 am at Trinity on the Hill Episcopal Church in Los Alamos.