Obituary of Ronald W. Cole

Ronald W. Cole was called home on March 30, 2014, to paint rainbows and sing songs with the angels. Ron, beloved friend, brother-in-law, uncle, and teacher was born on July 5, 1932, to Russell Thomas Cole and Mary Adsitt Cole and lived in Solvay, NY. Ronald was a graduate of Solvay School District. Following serving in Korea with the US Army, he received both Bachelor and Masters Degrees from State University of New York at New Paltz in Art Education. He taught art in the Solvay School District until his retirement in 1996 at the Hazard Street School. He was a member of the Solvay Teachers Association and the New York State United Teachers. Ron also served as a member of the Solvay Board of Education. Ron was an avid collector and dealer of antique buttons. He was a former president of the David Harum Button Club and the New York State Button Association, and he held various positions in the Northeast Region Button Association (NERBA), and the National Button Association. He was a well-known presenter at conferences and at local organizations. He was an active parishioner of the Solvay United Methodist Church and sang in the choir for many years. His love of singing carried over to his serenading his fellow residents at St. Camillus, where he spent the last few years of his life. Ron truly enjoyed spending summers at his camp, Tarnwood, on Seventh Lake in the Adirondacks. He regularly hosted family and friends for a long weekend of swimming, dining, sightseeing, and playing a card game, Ulcer Rummy. He was predeceased by his parents, his brother, Brian, sister, Joan Cole Ouderkirk, brother-in-law, Richard Ouderkirk, and niece, Carole Ouderkirk McDowell. Survivors: his sister-in-law, Michele Cole; nephews, Brandon (Melissa) Cole, Justin Cole, Mark Ouderkirk, Lee (Holly) Ouderkirk; niece, Amy Ouderkirk LeClair and several great nieces and nephews. Services: 6:00 p.m. Wednesday April 9, at Tindall Funeral Home. Burial in Greenlawn Cemetery will be private. Calling hours will be 4 to 6 p.m. Wednesday April 9 at the funeral home, 1921 W Genesee St, Syracuse. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Ron Cole Scholarship, payable to Dollars for Scholars, 600 Gertrude Ave., Solvay, NY 13209, Attn: Lisa.