Charles E. "Charlie" Cole

Charles “Charlie” Emmett Cole, 75, passed away on Friday, July 29, 2016 at Annie Penn Hospital in Reidsville, NC. The family will accept visitors at First Presbyterian Church, Reidsville, NC from 6:00pm until 8:00pm on Monday, August 1, 2016. A memorial service celebrating Charlie’s life will take place at First Presbyterian Church, Reidsville, NC at 11:00 AM., Tuesday, August 2, 2016. Charlie was born in Halifax County, VA, to the late Richard Cole and Hallie Weatherford Long. He was raised in southern Virginia eventually settling in Reidsville, NC where he spent the entirety of his adult life. He retired from a fulfilling career working with the procurement of tobacco for Universal Leaf Tobacco Co. Charlie was a lover of sports, and particularly enjoyed baseball. He participated well into adulthood where he volunteered as a high school coach and umpire in southern Virginia and the surrounding areas. Charlie also developed an affinity and acuity for golf. He immersed himself in every aspect of the pastime: playing his favorite courses, spending many a weekend afternoon watching his favorites players on television, and building custom clubs for friends. Some of his fondest memories include his time working in the pro shop at Pennrose Park Country Club, where he not only enjoyed assisting with the management of the course, but found a great deal of fulfillment in helping his “gang of boys” enjoy the sport as much as he did. Charlie greatly enjoyed spending time in nature, specifically around any body of water that would host aquatic life. He spent many a day fishing the creeks and rivers of North Carolina and Virginia and shared his enjoyment with his children and grandchildren, while instilling in them an appreciation and respect for nature. Whether it was a camping trip with his girls or a “tromp through the woods”, Charlie was truly in his element when outside. Not only a sportsman, Charlie was also a gifted craftsman. He was a self-taught builder of bamboo fly fishing rods, and spent countless hours creating beautiful and functional custom works of art that his friends and family, and a few customers, have been fortunate enough to enjoy. Although he was a man of many talents and interests, his greatest love was his family. Charlie was a dedicated and loving husband, “Daddy”, and “Papaw”, doing all that he could to ensure that his family was well cared for and happy. He had a particular gift with children and child-rearing, and was the ultimate Papaw. A majority of his retirement was spent dedicated to caring for his three grandchildren, shuttling to and from school and other activities, and making sure their mother knew what she was doing. He had a particular fondness for his nephews and niece, regarding them more as surrogate children then extended family. Charlie was preceded in death by his daughter Anne Charles Cole. Surviving are his loving wife: Susie Cole, daughter: Sybil Cole Young and husband Ryan Young, sister: Nellie Barksdale, brothers: Richard “RC” Cole and Lloyd Cole, sisters-in-law: Martha Anne Fairchild, Lucile Fairchild Thienemann, Anne Dell Cannon and husband Edward, beloved grandchildren: Anne Cailin Soyars, Paul Anthony Young, and Mary Lucile Young, niece: Hannah Lucile Cannon, nephews: Grant Fairchild Thienemann and Samuel Robert Thienemann. The family would like to extend their gratitude to the incredibly compassionate staff of the intensive care unit at Annie Penn Hospital, as well as Dr. Robert Byrum, Dr. Zack Hall, and Nurse Practitioners Tracie Hampton and Courtney Keatts for their respectful, personalized, and attentive care, and for helping him to live the remainder of his life with dignity and comfort. A special thanks also to Mr. Robert Costner for being an incredible friend and fishing companion. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to the American Lung Association or to First Presbyterian Church of Reidsville.