Merrill A. Cole Sr.

Merrill A. Cole Sr., 96, of Coventry, RI, passed away on Monday, May 6, 2024, at Kent Hospital, Warwick, RI. Born on September 20, 1927, in Providence, RI, he was the husband of Rita F. (Malo) Cole. They were married for sixty-six years. He was the son of the late Ellis and Mildred (Baxter) Cole.

Merrill was an assembler for BIF Industries, West Warwick, RI, for thirty-five years and then as a maintenance person for the Coventry School Department for two years before retiring in 1990. Merrill was a US Army Veteran serving in World War II.

Besides his wife Rita, Merrill is survived by three children; Melody Cole-Paiva and her husband James, Merrill Cole Jr. and his wife Debbie and Milly Babiec and her husband Jason, a sister; Judy Sawyer and three grandchildren; Ryan Cole, Sean Cole and Antonio Paiva. He was predeceased by six siblings; Priscilla Anderson, Betty Southworth, Donald Cole, Virginia Arling, Norman Cole and David Cole.

A visitation will be held on Monday, May 13, 2024, from 8:30 am to 10:30 am in the Gorton – Menard Funeral 721 Washington Street, Coventry, RI. Burial with US Military Honors will follow and will be held in the Rhode Island Veterans Memorial Cemetery, Exeter, RI.

In lieu of flowers donations in his memory can be made to VNA Care of New England, Philanthropy Building 2, 171 Service Avenue, Suite 310, Warwick, RI 02886

For online condolences please visit www.gortonmenardfuneralhome.com