Brevard, NC – Harold ‘Bud’ Townsend Cole, 96, of Brevard, NC passed quietly away at his home on Friday, October 23, 2015. A native of Millbrook, New York, he was the son of the late Oscar Townsend and Florence Stella Storey Cole. In addition to his parents he was also preceded in death by his wife of 72 years, Marie Barbara Cole and his sister, Gladys F. Cole.
He is survived by a son Gerard T. Cole and wife Kathleen E. of Redwood, NY, a daughter; Diane B. Skidmore and husband Steve of Conroe, TX, and six grandchildren; Jason T. Cole and wife Erica and great granddaughter, Pearl Townsend of Denver, CO., Brent M. Cole and wife Maureen and great granddaughter Alaina Marie, of Myrtle Beach, SC, Daniel T. Cole and wife Stacie of Orlando, FL, Adam E. Skidmore of Houston, TX, Sarah M. Skidmore and Joel O. Skidmore both of San Antonio, TX.
Born in a farm house that had an outhouse, a spring and no electricity, as a young man, Bud sold eggs, chickens, milk, and trapped muskrats to make money. Milk was 10 cents a quart and delivered to each house. He married and soon was off to WWII as an instructor teaching soldiers how to handle 155mm Howitzer guns. He later joined the 63rd Infantry Division as a Seargent and was in Europe for the Rhineland and Central Europe Campaign through the Siegfried Line.
After the war he worked at Lederle Labs, in Pearl River, NY working first with canine distemper, then polio vaccine and later in animal research until he retired in 1982 after 45 years of service. He attended night school for 12 years obtaining a B.S. degree. He was a lifelong Boy Scout and received the coveted Silver Beaver Award.
Bud loved Brevard- he attended library and college programs, hiked the area trails, tended his flower and vegetable gardens, fed his backyard white squirrels, collected stamps and was always ready to have a cup of coffee with the neighbors. He was an advocate for volunteering working at the Cradle of Forestry and AARP.
A Funeral Mass for Bud Cole will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday, November 10, 2015 at Sacred Heart Catholic Church with Father Leo Gariazzo officiating. A luncheon will be served by the Sacred Heart Catholic Church Ladies Guild immediately following the service. All are invited to the luncheon.
The family is thankful for the wonderful neighbors who sat and visited with Bud and for Hospice for all their professional and caring support.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to: Transylvania County Hospice, 1266 Asheville Highway, Suite 5, Brevard, NC 28712.
To leave a condolence for the family of Harold “BUD” Cole, please visit “obituaries” at www.moore-fh.com.
