Douglas Ray Cole

July 12, 1954 - January 26, 2022

Douglas Ray Cole Born Beckley, WV July 12, 1954 Date of Death January 26, 2022 Doug was the son of Harvey Kenneth Cole and Joanne G Cole, born in Beckley, West Virginia. Doug graduated at Ripley High School in the Class of 1972. After graduation he attended Concord College for a few years and then began working for The Holiday Inn Corporation as a Roving Food and Beverage director. He became an accomplished cook and restaurant manager for the company. He took pride in developing his own recipe’s. His job took him around the eastern United States. After a 1971 trip to California his desire was to return to the California mountains to live. He left the Holiday Inn company and headed west, traveling to see the country again and settled in Washington, California. Doug served on the local Volunteer Fire Department for almost 35 years serving at last as Captain. Doug was known for his Chicken that he prepared for the fire departments annual fund raiser. Doug worked for Waste Management, INC. and served as a nighttime security for a local gold mine. He was considered the local gold hunting expert having used many methods to locate gold. Doug was known as Captain 601, Colonel Doug and Chicken Doug. Doug was preceded in death by his father Ken, mother Joanne. He is survived by his brother Kenneth Cole, wife Ruthanne, of Princeton, WV, nephew Dr. Brent Cole and wife Leah and great niece Jenna. His sister Kimberly Simons, of Sandyville, WV and nephew David Evans, II, wife Ronnette, great nephews Logan, Hunter, Kanyon and great niece Saylor. Doug's internment will be at the Washington Cemetery in Washington California, Thursday February 10 and 10 am. A Fire Department Memorial Service will be conducted by the fire department May 15th at the cemetery.