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Francis Wright (Frank/Buddy) Cole, 62, of Ocean Pines, MD, and a 32-year resident of Severna Park, died suddenly on Tuesday, March 7, of natural causes. Born in Washington, DC on June 6, 1943, he is survived by his wife of 40 years, Mary Catherine Florentine Cole, Ocean Pines; son, Frank Anthony Cole, Rehoboth Beach, DE, and daughter, Allison Catherine Cole, New York City, NY. Also surviving are his parents, Harold M. and Bethyl Wright Cole of Berlin, MD; sister Nancy Cole Valasko and brother-in-law Albert Valasko, Ocean Pines; sister Catherine Cole Gilbride and brother-in-law Michael Gilbride, Herndon, Va.; brother Harold M. Cole Jr. and sister-in-law Linda Cole, Middletown, MD; and brother-in-law Frank Florentine and sister-in-law Susan Cook Florentine, Annapolis, MD; 5 nieces, 1 nephew and several great nieces and nephews. He attended St. Jerome's Elementary School, graduated from John Carroll High School in 1961 and graduated from Frostburg State University in 1966. He was a member of Sig Tau Gamma Fraternity at Frostburg State University. He taught in Anne Arundel County Public Schools for four years before receiving an appointment to the United States Postal Inspection Service in 1971. He began his career with the Inspection Service in Newark, NJ, but worked most of his career in the Baltimore and Eastern Shore areas. He retired from the US Postal Inspection Service in 1998. He was an avid outdoorsmen and environmentalist, hunting and fishing on the Eastern Shore and in Western Maryland and in Pennsylvania. He was chairman of the Madison Bay Hunt Club and a member of St. John's Evangelist Catholic Church, the Knights of Columbus; the National Association of Retired Postal Inspectors, the National Association of Retired Federal Employees, the Buchannan Rod and Gun Club, Adams County, PA., and Maryland Ducks Unlimited. Viewing hours will be at Barranco & Sons Funeral Home on Friday, 2-4 p.m. and 7-9 p.m.. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church, Severna Park, Saturday, 1 pm. Visitation at St. Ignatius Loyola Parish Catholic Church, Orrtanna, PA., on Monday from 1 to 130pm with a Service and committal to follow. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations in the name of Francis Wright Cole be made to the Chesapeake Bay Foundation, 6 Herndon Ave., Annapolis, MD; or St. Jerome's Catholic School, 5207 42nd Place, Hyattsville, MD 20781; or Maryland Ducks Unlimited, P.O. Box 896, St. Michaels, MD 21663.

The Cole Family will host a reception after the Mass on Saturday at Chartwell Country Club, 1 Chartwell Drive, Severna Park, MD 21146.  Phone: (410) 987-0400