Bill was born in South Bend, Indiana.  He graduated from South Bend Central High School in 1955 and from Worsham College of Mortuary Science Chicago in 1957.  He has been a licensed Funeral Director since 1958.  Bill married Janet (Cass) Cole on October 12, 1957.  They live in Fortville. 

He served in the U.S. Army on active duty for six months, then served five and a half years in the Reserves.

Bill retired from full-time funeral service in 2006 and has been serving families part-time at Erlewein Mortuary since November 2006.  He had owned and operated Cole Funeral Home in Winamac, Indiana for six years.  He had also managed the former Hughes Funeral Home (now Erlewein Mortuary) in Fortville for six years.

He and Janet had five children: son, Timothy, who passed away in 2003; daughter, Carrie Fogleman who passed away in 2007; son, Dan, and his wife Jennifer, Cole, who live in Carmel; daughter, Amy Lawrence, who lives in La Porte; daughter, Julie, and her husband Mike Good, who live in Plymouth; and son-in-law, Joe Fogleman who lives in Carmel.  They also have 12 grandchildren! 

Bill is a member of New Hope Presbyterian Church in Fishers.  He is Past President of the Fortville Lions Club, a member of both the Indiana and Marion County Funeral Director Associations, and a member of the Fortville Masonic Lodge #207 F&AM.  He enjoys fishing and Colts football in his spare time.