Deacon Herbert Hoover Cole

May 4, 1928 - September 24, 2019

Deacon Herbert Hoover Cole, 91, passed away Tuesday, September 24, 2019 at his home in Harrisburg, PA with family at his bedside. He was born in High Point, NC on May 4, 1928 to James Vernice Cole and Cleo Lindsay Cole, and was preceded in death by his parents. Herbert attended Florence High School and accepted Christ at a young age. He joined the Mount Carmel Baptist Church where he was a dedicated member, Sunday School teacher and Deacon. Herbert was employed by Furniture Factories in High Point until he decided to move to Harrisburg at the age of 39. He was hired by Sears in Harrisburg and later worked at The Hershey Company until his retirement after approximately 28 years. Herbert became a member of the Goodwin Memorial Baptist Church soon after his arrival in Harrisburg. He served in various ministries at Goodwin such as the Laymen, and in his final position as Deacon for 46 years. Surviving to cherish Herbert’s memories are his wife of 45 years, Elgenia Simmons Cole of the home; two sons, Herbert Cole Jr. of Atlanta, GA and Edward Cole (Adrienne) of Phoenix, AZ; one daughter, Gwendolyn Cole Proctor (Lloyd) of Atlanta, GA; a “son in heart”, John Wilson Sr. (Elinda) of Harrisburg, PA; six grandchildren, Dr. Erica Nicole Proctor of Northville, MI, Trevor Chadwick Cole Proctor of Atlanta, GA, Lakan Francesca Cole and Cassye Maureen Cole of Jersey City, NJ, and Cameron Henderson-Cole and Carter Henderson-Cole of Phoenix, AZ; two sisters, Helen Cole Jones of Greensboro, NC and Doris Cole Shoffner (Garnett) of Omaha, NE; one brother, Robert Cole (Carrie) of Springfield, VA; two sisters-in-law, Christine Simmons Wilson of Meridian, MS and Edna Simmons Torey of Detroit, MI; four nephews, Lazar Jones of Kernersville, NC, Allen Iles (Elizabeth) of Detroit, MI, Dr. Tony Shoffner of Chicago, IL, and Orlando Bell (Tuesday) of District Heights, MD; and seven nieces, Geraldine Raper of High Point, NC, Sandra Wallington of Greensboro, NC, Judge Robin Shoffner of Chicago, IL, Debra Shoffner of Indianapolis, IN, Joyce Cole of Raleigh, NC, Mishawn Cole Turner of Alexandria, VA, and Veranda Dowd of Oxon Hill, MD.