A coal miner for more than 10 years, he was employed by Black Mountain Resources--Stillhouse Mining at Cloverlick and was a former Greyhound Bus driver. He was a U. S. Navy veteran and was a deacon and church clerk at Rockvine Baptist Church.

He was preceded in death by his grandfather, Arlie Lewis; his great-grandparents, James and Hattie Dinsmore, Partridge; and one brother-in-law, Danny Sturgill.

Survivors include his wife, Claudia Sturgill Cole, Partridge; one son, Russell Cole Jr.; two daughters: Meleah and Kristin Cole, Partridge; his mother, Peggy Robinson, Louisville; his father, Charles Ledbetter, Arkansas; one brother, Paul Cole, Indianapolis, Ind.; his grandmother, Lena Lewis, Partridge; mother and father-in-law, Bill and Frances Sturgill, Cumberland; sisters-in-law: Dorothy Franks and husband, Mike; Lisa Scott and husband, Ronald; Carolyn Dinsmore and husband, Jerry; and Kim Sturgill; brother-in-law, Ronald Sturgill and wife, Marla; six nieces: Heather and Marissa Dinsmore, Samantha Scott, Faren Sturgill, Jade Sturgill and Tiffany Cole; one great-niece, Kadence Bowling; eight nephews: Mike Franks Jr., Jeremy Franks, Jesse Franks, Mark Scott, Dustin Scott, Zachary Dinsmore, Josh Goode and Shawn Sturgill; a very special cousin, Jerry Dinsmore; and a host of loved ones including co-workers, family and friends.

Visitation is today and Tuesday from 6 to 9 p.m. at Tri-City Funeral Home in Benham and Wednesday after 11 a.m. at Rockvine Baptist Church.

Funeral services will be conducted Wednesday at 2 p.m. at the church with the Rev. Rodger Jones, the Rev. Billy Boggs and the Rev. Robert Johnson officiating.

Internment will follow at the Maggard Cemetery in Partridge.

Graveside military rites will be conducted by VFW Post 5171 in Cumberland.

Pallbearers will be Josh Goode, Homer Boggs, James Boggs, Jim Hatfield, Kenny Smith, Brad Pittman, Roger Howard, Rick Raleigh and Eugene Johnson.

Honorary pallbearers will be Paul Cole, Jerry Dinsmore, Tristan Curry, Ronald Sturgill, Mike Franks Sr., Mike Franks Jr., Jeremy Franks, Jesse Franks, Ronald Scott, Mark Scott, Brian Gilliam, David Gilliam, David Dinsmore, Roger Lewis, Jeff Lewis, Greg Lewis, Tim Curry, Danny Helton, Zack Collier, Allen Lankford, Mickey Akers, Wes Sergent, Reggie Raleigh and Matt Kincer.

Tri-City Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.