Dallas James Cole passed away this July after a long struggle with Alzheimer’s disease. Even as his memory was fading, his love and affection for his wife of 64 years was constantly evident. He was born on September 6, 1939 to Auston and Bessie (Timpson) Cole in Modesto, California. Although raised in Tipton, California, his family returned to Modesto during his high school years and his skills on the football field earned him the newspaper nickname, “the feisty little transfer from Tipton.” He married Eletha Davidson and together they raised four sons, Auston James, Barry Keith, Cy Leon and Devin Morris.
Dallas worked at the California State Mental Hospital in Stockton while attending night classes at Humphrey Law School. In 1968, he was sworn into the California State Bar and began working as counsel for indigent defendants and in 1975 was appointed to the position of Chief Public Defender for Stanislaus County. Those who were called to serve as a juror from the 1980’s through the 2000’s might remember him as the person on the video explaining the jury selection process to potential jurors waiting in the jury assembly room. It was an interesting day when he joined Eletha, who had been called for jury duty, in the assembly room and the other potential jurors kept looking at the screen, then at him, then at the screen, then at him. Dallas was a staunch advocate for the rights of all individuals and passionately believed in due process, the right of legal representation and a fair trial. His deep belief was formed in large part by the experiences of his parents while migrating to California during the Great Depression/Dust Bowl.
When not working, Dallas was coaching his sons in little league baseball, or spending hours during the weekends in school gyms watching them wrestle. His retirement years found him often free diving for abalone or scuba diving along the California coast; working in his large vegetable garden; or traveling with Eletha to all fifty states, as well as to Mexico and Costa Rica. A fondly remembered activity was their yearly multi–day “Kids Big Trip” during which they took their grandchildren (8 of them the first time, ages 5–11) to various places in the mountains or along the coast, all of them packed into their motorhome and sometimes pulling a boat.
He was predeceased by his parents and brother, Arlen Cole. He is survived by his wife Eletha, sons Auston (Lori) Cole, Barry (Chrissy) Cole, Cy (Meg) Cole and Devin Cole, 12 grandchildren, 10 great grandchildren, as well as brother Harvey (Guen) Cole and sister Betty (Dennis) Wren.
A Celebration of Life will be held on August 16th at 10:00 at Community Bible Church in Waterford (cbcwaterford.org). It will be livestreamed on their Facebook page.
In lieu of flowers, please send donations to Alzheimer’s/Dementia Support Group, 700 McHenry Ave., Suite B, Modesto, CA 95350.
