New Wilmington - A. Wayne Cole passed away Feb. 21, 2026 at, Shenango on the Green. Born May 2, 1926, in Gastonville, Pennsylvania, to A. Wayne Cole Sr. and Christina Cole, he grew up near Washington, Pennsylvania, and was a 1944 graduate of Trinity High School.

After serving in the Army Air Corps, he attended Washington and Jefferson College for two years before transferring to Penn State University and graduating as an electrical engineer from there in 1950. At both schools he was a member of Phi Gamma Delta fraternity.

Following this graduation, Wayne began a 39-year career with Penn Power and parent company First Energy. His career took him to Marion, Ohio, Akron, Ohio, and back to New Castle, Pennsylvania, where he retired as president of Penn Power in 1989.

During his early years at Penn Power, Wayne taught at and headed the Penn State Center evening school in New Castle. He also participated and headed many local and statewide civic and business organizations, including a year as chairman of the statewide Pennsylvania Electric Association.

Wayne was named Man of the Year by the Marion, Ohio, newspaper in 1978 and Citizen of the Year by the New Castle Kiwanis Club in 1988. He also found time to serve on several church boards.

In addition to his professional life, he married another Penn Power employee, Marjorie Logan, in 1951 and together they had three children, Susan (David) Urano of Athens, Ohio, David (Sue) Cole of Narrowsburg and Terri (Ted) Skinner of Lakewood, Colorado. His grandchildren include Logan Cole, Tierney Cole, Shannon Skinner Lester, Cody Skinner, Hannah Urano and Grace Urano; and four great-grandchildren.

Wayne and Marjorie enjoyed 63 years together. They enjoyed family, travel, a winter home in Florida, golfing and dinners with friends. They moved into Shenango on the Green in 2013, and Marjorie died later that year.

Wayne elected to stay at Shenango on the Green, and on July 16, 2017, married Eleanore Morris. They enjoyed their golden years welcoming friends and family into their lives. Eleanore passed on June 29, 2024.

A service for family was held at The Smith Funeral Home in New Wilmington. Interment followed at Castle View Memorial Gardens, New Castle, Pennsylvania.

Arrangements entrusted to Smith Funeral Home of New Wilmington, Pennsylvania. A celebration of life will be held later this year.