Wallace L. “Fritz” Cole, 93, of Sweet Home passed away Thursday. He was born in Kelso, Washington to Howard and Violet (Muir) Cole.

Fritz was a resident of Wiley Creek Assisted Living Center in Sweet Home. His family has fond memories of a man who, as the song says, ‘Lived it his way.‘

Fritz and his seven siblings were raised by his mother, Violet, after their father, Howard, passed away when Fritz was still a boy. He and the other children all worked from an early age to help support the family. Fritz worked in the strawberry fields driving a horse-drawn wagon and at a dairy farm doing all the chores that entailed.

Fritz and Walter, his twin brother, joined the Civilian Conservation Corps and Fritz was assigned to the San Juan Islands where he helped build roads and lookout towers. He joined the National Guard and then the U.S. Army where he proudly served his country during WW II. He spent time in Germany and France and came home with a purple heart for wounds sustained in combat.

Upon returning from the service, Fritz worked the rest of his career in the wood products industry. After a brief period of retirement in 1980, he began work as a security guard at many wood product mills in the Sweet Home and Lebanon areas for many years. Fritz lived on his own until April of this year when he moved to Wiley Creek where he charmed all he met.

Fritz was the father of David, Stephen, Gary, Marlene, Dana, and Bonnie. He was a beloved grandfather, great grandfather, and great, great grandfather.

A graveside service will be held at 1:00 p.m., Friday June 29, 2012 at Lewis Cemetery on North River Dr., Sweet Home, Oregon where Fritz will be laid to rest next to his beloved wife, Nellie, to be forever joined together in heaven.

Arrangements are under the direction of Sweet Home Funeral Chapel.