AYER — Alva V. Cole, 81, of 43 Pleasant Street, died Thursday morning at the Life Care Center of Nashoba Valley, Littleton.
Mr. Cole was born in Onekama, Michigan, March 13, 1929, a son of John and Alta (Hillard) Cole and has resided in Ayer for over 50 years.
For twenty years, Mr. Cole worked as a firefighter at the Fort Devens Fire Department, retiring as a lieutenant in 1991. Prior to that he had worked at the International Purchasing Company and the Hartnett Tannery, both in Ayer.
During the Korean Conflict he served his country in the United States Army and was awarded the Purple Heart medal. He was a member of the American Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars posts and also served as a lieutenant on the Ayer Fire Department.
He is survived by his wife of 58 years, Ruth A. (Porter) Cole; two sons and a daughter-in-law, Dale E. Cole, Larry A. and Deborah Cole both of Ayer; a daughter and son-in-law, Joyce A. and Michael Hopkins of Ashby; seven grandchildren and nine grandchildren.
He was the brother of the late John Cole, James Cole, Henry Cole and Tressie Reed, all of Michigan.
A funeral service was held 11 a.m. Tuesday, Sept. 7, at the T.J. Anderson & Son Funeral Home, 25 Fitchburg Road, (Rte 2A) Ayer. Please see www.andersonfuneral.com for additional information.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Mr. Cole’s name to either the Ayer Ambulance Association, 1 West Main Street, Ayer, MA or American Legion Post 139, P. O. Box 114, Ayer, MA 01432.
