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Drag Icon, Walter Cole Of Portland Passes Away at Age 92

By Joe Frank 25 March 2023

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Walter Cole's death was originally announced Thursday evening on the Darcelle XV Showplace Facebook page.

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Cole entertained generations of tourists and bachelorette parties at his Old Town nightclub, delivering filthy jokes and serving as master of ceremonies.

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Cole was an unofficial ambassador for Portland, supporting various charities and winning the mayor's Spirit of Portland Award.

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Walter Cole was named the Oldest Drag Queen Performer in the World by Guinness World Records in 2016.

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Walter Willard  Cole was born on November 16, 1930, in the Linnton neighborhood of Northwest Portland, a blue-collar community under the shadow of the St. Johns Bridge.

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Cole's one-man performance "Just Call Me Darcelle" depicts his struggle to cope with his mother's death and his aunt Lil's role as his mother and father.

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Being an only child, he felt alienated from other kids, who mocked him with the moniker "sissy-boy."

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Cole married Jeannette Rosini in 1951, then did a term of duty in Italy before returning to Southeast Portland and fathering two children.

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In an effort to fit into traditional American society, Cole worked as a store manager at Fred Meyer.