James Kenneth Cole

James Kenneth "Ken" Cole passed away at home on June 7, 2022, surrounded by family. Ken was born in Lexington, Kentucky on July 1, 1932, where he developed a love for the out-of-doors and achieved the rank of Silver Palm Eagle in the Boy Scouts. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Kentucky. After college, he served two years in the United States Air Force as an engineering officer at the Air Force Cambridge Research Center in Hanscom Field, Massachusetts. He became a member of the technical staff at Sandia National Laboratories in Albuquerque, New Mexico, in 1957. He earned his Master of Science and PhD degrees in Mechanical Engineering from the University of New Mexico through a work study program at Sandia. During his career, he worked on a wide variety of projects ranging from designing electromechanical weapon safing components, to testing high-speed rockets flying through storm clouds, to demonstrating the feasibility of landing the NASA Pathfinder on Mars using gas filled cushions. He retired from Sandia in 1998 after 40 years of service. Ken was happily married to Joan Meadow Cole for 66 years. They have four grown, married children: Bob (deceased) and wife, Leigh Ann Cole, Lynn and husband, Kerry Zottnick, David and wife, Kathryn Cole and Brian and wife, Joan Cole; fourteen grandchildren and seven great grandchildren. Ken was active in Boy Scouting and enjoyed skiing, hiking, biking, backpacking, photography, birding, reading, gardening, and travel. In retirement, he volunteered at the Explora Museum, tutored math students at Sandia High School and was active in the Kiwanis Club of Albuquerque. He also served on the Board of La Vida Llena Retirement Community for several years. He was an active member of the First Presbyterian Church for over 65 years and held the offices of Elder and Deacon at various times. His service will be held in the First Presbyterian Church, 215 Locust Street, Albuquerque, NM, 87102, on Monday, June 13, 2022, at 10AM with the Rev. Stephanie Urban officiating. In lieu of flowers, please make contributions to the Parkinson's Disease Foundation or the Parkinson's Research Foundation.