T. Wilma Cole

TRINA WILMA COLE was born on March 9, 1921 to Ira and Jane (Groot) Rysdam in Sanborn, Iowa. In 1928, she moved with her family to Pipestone, Minnesota where she attended country school and then Pipestone High School. Upon completion of her education, she worked as a telephone switchboard operator in Pipestone. In 1951, she moved to Escondido, California where she worked at the J.C. Penney Store and later at a pharmacy. On November 25, 1961, she was united in marriage to Orrin Cole. Following their marriage, they lived in Escondido. Orrin preceded her in death on April 19, 1970. After his death, Wilma continued to reside in Escondido. On Monday, March 7, 2011, Wilma died in Escondido at the age of 89 years.

Wilma was a member of the Christian Reformed Church. She was a servant of Christ to His church. For many years, she hosted Westminster Serminary interns in her home on Sundays. Those particularly close included Rev. David Van Drunen, Mr. James Lund, and Rev. Brian Vos. She volunteered for at least a decade at Westminster Seminary, serving Keith VanderPol (head of development) in a number of ways. She edited the audio tapes of worship services at Escondido URC for more than a decade.

She is lovingly remembered by her sister, Francis Jaacks of Valley Springs, South Dakota; and her brother, Bill Rysdam of Lakewood, California. She was preceded in death by her husband; her parents; and nine siblings, Ira Rysdam, Gertrude De Boer, Gerrit Rysdam, Jeanette Rysdam, John Rysdam, Lucille Rysdam, Jonathan (Joe) Rysdam, Helen Hoek, and a baby sister.