Philip M. Cole

 Philip Matthew Cole, age 61, died on Wednesday, June 15. He was the son of the late Paul George Cole and Genny (Bahleda) Cole, and husband for nearly 28 years to the late Paula (Pugh). In addition to his mother, Phil is survived by his son Darrin (Jamiee), grandson Brooks, sister Cathy Kelley (the late Cy), brothers Skip (Caren) and Steve (Jill), and wife Sunshine. After graduating from Cornell High School, Phil spent several years employed as a barge worker on the area’s rivers and as an auto mechanic. He then moved on to his more than three-decade career driving truck, first as a long-haul, or “over-the-road” driver, then later as a regional trucker with Neville Aggregates. He had recently left the road behind for a job servicing, maintaining, and repairing big rigs. A lifelong resident of Neville Island, Phil loved the island and its community as demonstrated by his more than 35 years of dedicated, active service in the Neville Island Volunteer Fire Department. It was an avocation of which he was deeply and justifiably proud. Phil also treasured any time he could spend fishing, hunting, working on cars and his many building projects, or riding his motorcycles. Additionally, Phil felt a deep connection to Native American culture; admiring its values and teachings and making them central to his identity. Above all, though, Phil will be remembered as a giving person, someone for whom his family, his friends, and his neighbors truly mattered. He always had time for them. Phil cultivated a gruff exterior but everyone who knew and loved Phil would agree that what lay beneath it was a heart of gold. Visitation R.D. Copeland, Ltd, 867 Fifth Ave, Coraopolis, Saturday, June 18th from 1 - 7 PM. Services at the funeral home on MONDAY at 10am followed by Entombment at Resurrection Cemetery. The family suggest that contributions may be made to the Neville Township Fire Department, 5300 Grand Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15225. 

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