William A. Cole, 83, of West Long Branch, passed away Saturday, Jan. 17, 2009 at the St. Barnabas Hospice and Palliative Care Center, at Monmouth Medical Center, Long Branch. Mr. Cole was born in Lambertville and lived in West Long Branch. He attended the Art Students League in New York City and Brookdale Community College. For years he studied with noted artists Pat Lafferty and Anthony Ventura. His art work has been exhibited in many local events including the West Long Branch Library, Eatontown Library, The Guild of Creative Artists, The Coryell Gallery, The Clinton Gallery, Brookdale Alumni showsand the Geraldine Thompson Park Exhibits. His paintings are included in the Festival of Arts, Shrewsbury. Bill was commissioned by Gallo Wine Co. for a publication in Modern Maturity. He is an exhibiting member of the Guild of Creative Art. A member of the Garden State Watercolor Society and the American Watercolor Society. He works depict his childhood in Lambertville and New Hope, Pa., as well as his present home at the Jersey Shore. He is survived by two daughters and a son-in-law, Barbara W. Cole, Scituate, RI, Audrey Patricia and Glenn Ritter, Harrisburg, PA; four grandchildren, Devin and Gordon Lafler, Justin Ritter and Heidi Lubold; His longtime companion, Dorothy Wright, West Long Branch. Visitation will be Wedenesday, 7 to 9 PM at the Woolley Funeral Home, 10 Morrell Street at Broadway, Long Branch. Funeral services will be Thursday at 11:00 AM at the Funeral Home. The interment will be Friday, in Lambertville, NJ. You may light a candle of remembrance for Mr. Cole, on the opposite page.