WILLIAM B. “COTTON” COLE

William B. “Cotton” Cole, 86, of Dandridge, TN, passed away peacefully in his sleep (or lost his brief battle with cancer) in the early hours of March 16, 2017. Born in Dandridge, TN to Brisco and Laura Cody Cole, he went on to serve in the Army during the Korean War and retired from TDOT after many years of service. He was beloved by those who knew him and was often called the “mayor” of Swannsylvania. He was preceded in death by two sons, Bill and Keith Cole; brothers, Arthur and Mack Cole; sister, Pauline Cole Lyons.
William is survived by his wife of 62 years, Willadean Burns Cole, his daughter Renae Cole Bradley and son Michael Cole.; grandchildren, Holli and her husband Rick and their two children James and Lili Ballard, Heather and her husband Greg and their son Tate West, Cheryl Cole, and Nate Bradley and their partner Dominic Cariddi; sisters, Willa Mae Amos, and Joyce and her husband Ronald Hubbard; brothers Alfred and his wife Ophene, Jimmy and his wife Sonja, and Jerry Dale; several sisters-in-law and brothers- in- law and numerous nieces and nephews that grew up with him as an entertaining presence in their lives. He will also be missed by the many people whose lives that he touched along the way.
Funeral services will be held Sunday, March 19, 2017, 2:00pm at Swannsylvania Baptist Church with Rev. Mike Hensley officiating and the body will lie in state one hour before services. The Cole family will receive friends Saturday, March 18, 2017 from 3:00 to 5:00pm at FARRAR FUNERAL HOME, DANDRIDGE