Mary Cole

Mary Louise Cole, 89, a resident of Glade Valley Nursing and Rehab Center in Walkersville, Maryland, passed away peacefully on Monday morning, June 4, 2012 at the nursing home.

Born on October 8, 1922, in Cotton, West Virginia, she was the first of four children to Noah C. and Flora A. (Litton) Young.  She graduated from Walton High School as the salutatorian of her class.  She attended business school in Charleston, West Virginia.

Her first husband, Walter A. Power, whom she married in Michigan in 1943 died November of 1944 during WWII.  She remained in Michigan where she later met Melville H. Cole and the two married in Boston, Massachusetts in April of 1948.  Mr. Cole was employed by Pontiac Motor Division and during his career they lived in five states before retiring to St. Simon's Island, Georgia.  They were married forty-five years and had two daughters.  Mr. Cole died in April of 1993.

Mary was an active participant in all the communities in which she lived and volunteered in many settings.  She was also involved in church communities, including New Market United Methodist Church following her move to Maryland in 2000.  Her last membership was at Benevola United Methodist Church while living in Boonsboro, Maryland.  She was talented at many crafts which included sewing, quilting, crocheting and needle work.  She played the piano, liked to paint, read and play bingo.

Beloved by her family, she is survived by two daughters, Deborah C. Goldberg of Ohio and Melissa A. Boyd and her husband, Andre T. of Maryland; three grandchildren, Krista Hankey and her husband, Josh, Corey Cole Linthicum and his wife, Amanda, all of Maryland, Jessica Zeigler and her husband, Andrew of Georgia; one step-granddaughter, Rachel Goldberg and her husband Tim Olzer of Georgia; three great-grandsons, Cole and Isaac Hankey and Noah Zeigler; three step-great granddaughters, Valerie, Bridget and Madeline Olzer; one brother, William Young and his wife Joan of South Carolina.  She is also survived by one niece and one nephew.

Preceding Mary in death besides her parents and husbands are one sister, Lauren Young-Branham, one brother, Arnold Young, a sister-in-law, Mary Young, two nephews, Jeff and Joe Young and one niece, Betty Branham.

The family would like to thank the residents and staff at Edenton Retirement Community in Frederick, Maryland and the staff at Glade Valley Center in Walkersville for their friendship and caring.  Deborah and Melissa extend additional heartfelt thanks to friends near and far for their love and support.

A funeral ceremony will be held at 3 p.m. on Wednesday, June 6, 2012 at Benevola United Methodist Church, 19925 Benevola Church Road, Boonsboro, Maryland.  The Rev. John H. Dean will officiate.  Final resting-place ceremonies will follow at the adjoining church cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Benevola United Methodist Church, 19925 Benevola United Methodist Church, Boonsboro, Maryland 21713 or a charity of donor's choice.