Walter Roger Cole, 87, went to his Heavenly home on Wednesday, July 13, 2016.

Visitation will be held Friday, July 15, 2016, from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM at Lowndes Funeral Home, Columbus, MS. A Funeral Service will be held Saturday, July 16, 2016, at 11:00 AM with Dr. Shawn Parker officiating and Dr. Bobby Douglas assisting at First Baptist Church, Columbus, MS. Mr. Cole will lie-in-state one hour prior to the Funeral Service. Interment will be in Friendship Cemetery, Columbus, MS with Lowndes Funeral Home directing.

Mr. Cole was born September 22, 1928, to the late Jeptha Theodis and Willie Lee Payne Cole in Longview, MS. He moved to Columbus, MS at the age of 6 and was a supervisor at APAC for 43 years. Mr. Cole was a member of First Baptist Church, where he became a deacon, a member of Builder's Sunday School Class and the Retired Men's Coffee Club. Mr. Cole loved people and his church, hosting get-togethers for friends and entertaining. He also loved work and being outdoors. In addition to his parents, he is preceded in death by his brother-Richard M. Cole.

Mr. Cole is survived by his wife and best friend of 70 years-Dorothy Stanley Cole, Columbus, MS; daughter-Linda (James) Hall, Columbus, MS; Nina Cole, Atlanta, GA; brother-Jimmie T. Cole, Houston, TX; grandchildren-Jamie S. Hall, Jr. and Roger A. (Kim); great-grandchildren-Victoria L. Hall, Matthew T. Hall, Marcos A. Hall, and Robert Farmer, Jr.; and a number of cousins, nieces and nephews.

Pallbearers will be Sonny Cole, Bill Cole, Tracy Cole, Jep Cole, Perry Hendrix, and Bobby McReynolds. Honorary Pallbearers will be Jamie Harvey, Dr. Brad Brown, Dr. Peter Tofts, Deacons of First Baptist Church past and present, APAC Employees past and present, Retired Men's Coffee Club, and Builder's Sunday School Class.

Memorials may be made to First Baptist Church, The Crossing, 202 7th St. N., Columbus, MS 39701 or Camellia Hospice, 2309 Bluecutt Rd, Columbus, MS 39705.