A Life Story

Glenn William Cole Jr. ("Bill"), Savannah GABill Cole, age 78, passed away peacefully on Saturday, October 5, 2024 at Hospice Savannah.Bill is survived by his loving wife Patrice and their three children (Peggy, Glenn III and Ann), his brother Alan Cole (Marie), and his sister, Dorothy Thomas (Jeff). Bill was preceded in death by his brother Eric Cole.One of four children, Bill was born on April 24, 1946, in Cleveland OH to Glenn William Cole, Sr. and Sibyl Jean (Olsen) Cole. Bill and his family spent most of his childhood in Florida where he developed a lifelong passion for the water, baseball, basketball and football. The family moved to Decatur GA in 1963 where Bill graduated from Decatur High School and went on to study at Dekalb College. Bill served in the United States Army from 1967 -1969 spending a year in Germany and a year in Vietnam. Upon returning from the war to Atlanta, he worked in banking, his own picture framing businesses, and construction and home remodeling. Bill and Patrice married in Atlanta in 1972 and relocated to Savannah in 1998 with their 3 children.Bill's lifelong love of sports was solidified in high school where he played football and basketball. Later he played for the Atlanta Rugby Club and ran in the Peachtree Road Race several times as well as coaching his children's youth leagues. In Savannah Bill's love of the water and boating was reignited. He raced bicycles with the Savannah Wheelmen as well as serving as president of the club for a few years. In 2010 Bill was the USA Cycling Georgia Time Trial champion for his age group. He participated in the 2010 USA Cycling Masters Championships. After he finished competing, he was a USA Cycling referee for many years. In recent years, Bill was a board member of the Chatham County GOP.Never to complain about himself he fought to the last and will be sadly missed by all that were blessed to have known and loved him.To celebrate Bill's life, the family will receive well-wishers on Thursday, October 17 from 2 – 5 pm and the Savannah Yacht Club (Sail Loft building), 730 Bradley Point Road, Savannah GA 31410.In lieu of flowers, the Cole family requests making donations to a charity of your choice in Bill's name.