Albert “Al” E. Cole, 89, of Plant City, died April 1, 2013. Born March 25, 1924, in Pennsylvania, he was preceded in death by his wife, Marjorie Koscur Cole, in 1995, and his brother, Melvin, and sister, Eleanor.
Survivors include his beloved companion of 16 years, Betty Merritt; brothers, George (Sharon) and Larry; his daughters, Yolonda Cole, Shireen Granger (John), Cara Stare (James); 5 grandchildren; 4 great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews and their families.
Mr. Cole was a veteran of World War II, during which he lost his brother Melvin in the Battle of the Bulge. He was a 55-year brother of the BPOE at Plant City Lodge 1727. He came to Plant City in 1954 to start his business as a building contractor, A.E. Cole Inc. He treasured his career and the variety of projects he embraced: fallout shelters in the 1960s, private homes and housing subdivisions, churches, banks and many other well-known businesses around Plant City. Outgoing and gregarious, he loved his customers and many friends as much as he loved building. He closed out his career in commercial building.
During his career, he was involved in the Plant City Homebuilders Association, The Tampa Homebuilders Association, & the Tampa Apartment Association. He built or owned apartments, including LeBon, Devonshire, Eastborne, Coronation Court Apartments, and others under the name Cole Properties, which will be continued by his family. He loved golf and played for many years at the Plant City Golf and Country Club before becoming a charter member of the Walden Lake Golf and Country Club.
Funeral Services were April 5, at Wells Funeral Home.