Charles S. Cole

Charles Cole, 96, previously resident at Fairwinds Residential Care Home in North Bennington, died peacefully with family nearby at Lower Cape Fear Life Care Hospice Care Center in Wilmington, NC, on October 27, 2025. He was born at home in Arlington, VA, on April 6, 1929. He was the son of the late John Sterling Cole and Marion (Bates) Cole.

Charlie received his education in Virginia and was a 1947 graduate of St. John's College High School in Washington DC. He was commissioned in the U.S. Army, and stationed at Fort Monmouth in NJ. He married Lorna Kay Bass on May 24, 1952, at the original St. Francis de Sales Church in Bennington. Charlie originally came to Vermont to work on a farm, met his future wife Lorna, and started a long career primarily in the heating business at Henry M. Tuttle and J.H. Winslow until establishing his own furnace cleaning business. He was known throughout Bennington County for his ever-present smile and good nature. He and Lorna owned Flowers by Lorna in the 1970's on Main Street in Bennington.

Charlie was a long-time member and usher at St. John the Baptist Church in North Bennington and an active Norshaft Lion and an Elk member as well. He enjoyed golf and caring for his Shaftsbury home and yard.

Survivors include a daughter, Jill Peterson, and her husband Bruce of Leland NC, and a son John, and his wife Sue of Rio Verde, AZ. Charlie has four grandchildren: Carrie Peterson, (Ryan Cantore), Chris Peterson, (Kate Lowry), Kristy Gaul (Greg), and John Cole III (Wendy); plus, four great-grandchildren: Xander, Violet, Rowan Gaul and June Peterson.

If friends would like to make contributions in memory of Charlie, they may be made to Fairwinds Community Care Home, 108 Mechanic Street, North Bennington, VT, 05257.

The family is planning a private celebration of Charlie's life in the spring of 2026, in Bennington.