Charlie was born August 5, 1930 in New Hanover, North Carolina to Charles Bradley Cole and Edna Mae (DeWitt) Cole. He had one sibling, Edna Ruth. He attended the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He joined the Air Force shortly thereafter. Charlie was first stationed at Bryan Air Force Base where he attended Flight school and received Instrument Flight Training. It was in Bryan where he met Joannie Brown of Bryan, Texas. They were married in 1954. Soon Charlie was assigned to the Strategic Air Command base in Merced, California where he flew B-47s. He was assigned to March AFB in Riverside California the next year. He and his wife had 3 children during their time in California; Dona, Charles Jr, and Jay.
During the Cold War Charlie was deployed to Upper Heyford AFB in Upper Heyford, England. He had several stories about flights over Alaska (and near Russia) during the height of the Cold War. It was while at Upper Heyford he learned one of his favorite sports, golf. When Charlie and his family returned to the states his fourth child, a daughter named Gail, was born in Blytheville, Arkansas. Soon afterwards Charlie was assigned to Military Airlift Command (MAC). He flew C-141 Starlifter Aircraft out of Dover AFB and later McGuire AFB in New Jersey.
Charlie retired from the Air Force in 1970 and moved his family to Austin, Texas. He gave airplane check rides and played golf. He owned several businesses during retirement including Bird’s Nest Airport.
In 1976 Charlie and Joannie divorced. Charlie married Eppie Lourie Lockhart Anderson (Lou). Lou had 5 children from a previous marriage; Carl, Stephen, Janiece, Teresa, and Cynthia. Charlie and Lou lived in San Marcos for several years and later moved to Onion Creek in south Austin. Lou passed away March 12, 2013.
Charlie and Faye Grady married in 2014 and moved first to Salado, Tx, then later to Temple, Tx. They enjoyed the company of Faye’s several small dogs. Charlie and Faye originally were both from the same area of North Carolina so they had a lot in common.
Charlie is survived by 2 sons, Charles W. Cole, Jr. and Jay Cole, both of Austin; daughter Dona and son-in-law James Marshall in Richardson, TX; daughter Gail and son-in-law Dawight Gunter in Kyle, TX; and grandchildren Nicole Gunter & David Gunter and wife, Elizabeth. Also Charlie is survived by step-sons, Carl and wife, Elaine Anderson, and Stephen in San Marcos; step-daughter Janiece in Arkansas; step-daughter Teresa in Austin; step-daughter Cindy and husband Mark, in Lancaster, CA; step-grandchildren Elliott and wife, Angel; Audrey; Nolan and wife, Heather; Stacey ; Seth; Joanie; Andrea and husband, Justin Ito; and Ian Anderson; Theodore Anderson and Joanna Vasquez; eight step-great-grandchildren, Alaina, Truth, Grace, Mercy, Austin, & Jackson Anderson; and Florence & Vienna Ito. Charlie is also survived by step-son Doug Grady and wife, Cindy; step-daughter Kathy Riggan and husband, Edward; and sister, Edna Ruth Thomas & husband, Billy; niece Debra Thomas and nephews Billy Daniel and Brian.
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.crawfordbowerstemple.com for the Cole family.
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