Judy, Duane, and Rolly Are Together Again

To everyone who thrilled to the graceful precision of a Duane Cole airshow, there was someone nearby who deserved every bit of the applause and praise as Duane... his beloved wife Judy. More than a spouse;  Duane's "best friend, Judy" (shown below with Duane, and Texas T-Cart performers Randi and Di Henderson) served as a critical team member, wing walker, business manager and confidante for the decades that the Cole family entertained and educated pilots and airshow attendees the world over.

We lost Duane just a short while ago... and experienced the bittersweet sadness involved in remembering a fallen friend and dearly beloved member of our collective heritage... and now we must do so again. Judy has joined her husband Duane, and son Rolly (lost over 40 years ago in a tragic airshow accident), where all aviators must someday go when she passed away peacefully Monday, surrounded by her family. Judy and Duane were married 66 years... and were a constant presence on the airshow and fly-in circuit during the years when Duane actively campaigned the airshow circuit and even later after he retired from flying to spend a great deal of time, writing, lecturing and brightening the day of the thousands who met him... with Judy proudly by his side.

EAA President Tom Poberezny called them, "...a team in every sense of the word. Judy deserved every bit as much of the praise that Duane received -- she was the greatest force in his life."

Duane married the former Julia Marie Hippe on November 22, 1937, in San Bernardino, CA, but he always called her Judy (pictured below with SWRFI President Stan Shannon, Texas T-Cart performers Randi and Di Henderson, and Duane). And so did we all -- as did I...

She had a gentle smile, her eyes sparkled in amazing ways and you could never leave a conversation with Judy Cole without being really jealous of Duane. She was an incredibly empathic person, who'd order each of her friends to sit down and tell her all about what was happening in their lives, good and bad, and always sent them off feeling warmed and happy for the privilege. She was a witty lady, never failed to have a great story to tell, and was fearlessly loyal to her friends and family. We're going to miss her terribly... but the memories we have are precious and of the kind that bring an immediate smile and the kind of warm feeling that comes with being in the presence of someone who exudes more love than most people we know.

Judy is survived by her son, John Cole of Dallas, TX; daughter, Karen Allard and husband, Charles, of Burleson; brother-in-laws, Marion Cole of Shreveport, LA, Lester Cole of Phoenix, AZ; sister-in-law, Bernice Booker of Peoria, IL; granddaughter, Julia and great-grandchildren, Nicole and Alexandra. The family would appreciate memorials be sent to The Duane Cole Memorial Fund, 731 N. W. Tarrant, Burleson, TX 76028.

Update: The Cole family has scheduled her services for 2:00 p.m. on Friday, August 13, at Mountain Valley Funeral Home, 3407 Southwest Wilshire Boulevard, Burleson, TX, 76028. 817-426-3200.

Judy, Duane, and Rolly Are Together Again... as they should be. God bless you Judy, we love you and we'll miss you -- Jim Campbell, ANN E-I-C

But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run and not be weary; and they shall walk and not faint. -- ISAIAH 40:31

FMI: ANN Remembers Duane Cole