Vance Leroy Cole, 92, of Smyrna, DE, passed away on Monday January 14, 2019 at the home of his son, daughter-in-law, and granddaughter.

He was born in Smyrna on April 19, 1926, the son of the late Leroy and Ida Voss Cole. He graduated from Smyrna High School and Goldey-Beacom College.

He was drafted into the Army during World War II and served in the field artillery as a cannoneer and as a financial technical clerk. Mr. Cole served 18 months in the European Theatre of Operations with the Third Army under General Patton. He participated in the Rhineland, Ardennes, and Central Europe Campaigns, and attained the rank of Staff Sergeant.

He formerly served as a police officer for the Town of Smyrna. He was self-employed as a barber for over 60 years, and often received tongue lashings for climbing a 16-foot ladder to paint his building! He stood behind his barber chair from sun up to sundown many days to provide a good life for his family and an education for his children.

He enjoyed attending his children's sporting events and school activities, oil painting, fishing, and golfing. He was a former member of the Jaycees and the Lions Club.

Vance loved making people smile and laugh through stories and jokes and his favorite saying was "So I guess everything is under control?"

He was preceded in death by his wife Lorraine Cole; and a sister, Fay Harvath.

He is survived by his children, Cathy Williams and her husband Anthony, and Randy Cole and his wife Terri; three grandchildren, Amie Edwards, Brett Edwards, and Madison Cole; three great-grandchildren, Travis Cole Adams, Jared Ray Adams, and Kelsi Elizabeth Adams; and a sister, Arleen Dulin.

A special thank you to Seasons Hospice & Palliative Care and Terri Cole for their exceptional care.

Services will be held 12:00 PM Saturday January 19 at Matthews-Bryson Funeral Home, 123 W. Commerce St., where friends may call at 11:00 AM. Burial will be in Odd Fellows Cemetery, Smyrna. Pastor Rita Fry will officiate.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be sent to Seasons Hospice & Palliative Care, 4755 Ogletown-Stanton Rd., Newark, DE 19718.

To sign the online guestbook, please click on the tab marked "Sign and View Guestbook".

Arrangements are by Matthews-Bryson Funeral Home and Cremation Services, Smyrna.