Cole Jon Pierce, 82, of Tulsa, Oklahoma, passed away peacefully surrounded by his family on October 6, 2022.

Cole was born in Galesburg, Illinois on September 17, 1940 to Thomas and Frances Pierce.  He was raised in Texas, Oklahoma, and Illinois, where he graduated high school.  Cole went on to attend Knox College in Illinois, where he played the French horn in the Knox-Galesburg Symphony and lettered on the baseball team.  He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Physics in 1963.  Cole joined the Navy Reserve Officer Candidate program and attended the Navy Officer Candidate School in Newport, Rhode Island over the summers of 1961 and 1962; he was commissioned an officer in the United States Navy the day after graduation.  He later earned a Master of Science degree in Aeronautical Engineering from the United States Naval Postgraduate school in 1977.

Cole served his country in the United States Navy from 1961 through 1984.  In his 23 years of service, he flew 257 combat missions in Vietnam in the F-8 Crusader and F-4 Phantom.  He received numerous medals and commendations during his career.  He later served as the Program Director on the F-14 Tomcat R&D program.  Throughout his military career, Cole flew approximately 50 different aircraft types and completed over 500 aircraft carrier landings.

After his retirement from the United States Navy in 1984, Cole moved his family to Houston where he worked on defense contracts with McDonnel Douglas and Boeing.  Unable to leave flying behind, Cole began his commercial aviation career of 13 years when he joined Continental Airlines in 1987.  During this time, he flew the DC-10, A-300 and MD-80 until his retirement at the age of 60.  He accumulated over 12,000 total flight hours in his military and commercial flying careers.

When Cole wasn't in the cockpit, you could find him playing tennis or on the golf course.  He loved music, tracing his family heritage, and astronomy.  He cherished watching the Dodgers play and supporting his granddaughters' college football teams.  Cole was dearly loved by his family and friends and will be missed tremendously.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Thomas Stebbins Pierce, II, and Frances Marion (Cole) Pierce.  He is survived by his three daughters: Susan Pierce Ernst (Eric) of Tulsa, OK, Melissa Pierce O'Toole (Mark) of Oceanside, CA and Casey Pierce of Supply, NC; grandchildren Ava and Caroline Ernst, Mason and Marisa O'Toole, and Delaney Pierce; his brothers, Thomas Stebbins Pierce, III, of Norman, OK and Timothy Pierce of Apopka, FL; and the mother of his children and former spouse of 38 years, Jo Ann (Dworzynski) Pierce.

Cole will be buried at sea by the United States Navy from the port of San Diego, where he began his aviation career.  A memorial service is pending following the burial at sea.  In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to any of Cole's beloved charities: Vietnam Veterans of America, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital or The Michael J. Fox Foundation.