Charles Wayne Cole

February 12, 1932 - October 27, 2019

Charles Wayne Cole, age 87, of Charleston, IL formerly of Mattoon, IL, passed away at 7:56 P.M. on Sunday, October 27, 2019 at his residence in Charleston, IL. Funeral services celebrating his life will be held 1:00 P.M. on Friday, November 1, 2019 at the Mitchell-Jerdan Funeral Home, 1200 Wabash Ave., Mattoon, IL 61938 with Reverend Brad Brown officiating, Masonic Rites will follow at 1:45 P.M. being conducted by members and guests of the Mattoon Masonic lodge #260 A.F.A.M. Burial will be at Arcola Cemetery in Arcola, IL with Military Rites being conducted by the Honor Guard of the Mattoon, IL VFW Post 4325. Visitation will be from 11:00 A.M.-1:00 P.M. before services at the funeral Home. Charles was born on February 12, 1932 in Mattoon, IL. The son of Clyde D. and Hattie H. (Thompson) Cole. He married Gladys Myles Higgins in Mt. Vernon, IL. He is survived by his wife Gladys M. Cole of Charleston, IL. His children; Jerry Cole and his wife Holly of Sturgeon Bay, WI, Wendy Drake and her husband Brad of Charleston, IL and Cindy Jones and her husband Gary of Prosper, TX; his step-children, Sandy Pence and husband John of Roswell, GA, Sally LeAnne Gerrie and her husband Lonnie of Ashmore, IL; one brother, Gene Cole of Crowley, TX; two sisters Mary Arnold of Salem, IL and Bonnie Wright of Robinson, IL; five grandchildren, Samantha Stroik and her husband Travis, Hannah Cole, Perrin Dean Cole, James Jones and Matthew Jones; three step-grandchildren, Connor Pence, Jennifer Finney and Makayla Coe and husband Brody of Ashmore, IL; two great step-grandchildren, Isabella Finney and Evelyn Grace Fortune. He was preceded in death by one son, Steven Cole; one brother, Ray Cole; two brother in-laws, Paul Arnold and Warren Wright; one sister-in-law, Pem Cole. Charles received his education from Eastern State High School, the Laboratory School at Eastern Illinois University in Charleston, IL. After seventeen years of schooling, Charles received his masters’ degree in Education from Eastern Illinois University. Throughout the years, he was an educator at Clinton High School, Joliet East High School, Danville High School and Shawnee Community College. Charles made his way back to his community, as an educator and administrator for Lake Land Community College in Mattoon, IL where he retired from after fifteen years. Charles proudly served our country in the Army as a Spec 2 Corporal in Korea from December 1954 to September 1956. He was a member of Mattoon Family Worship Center. He was actively involved in the Mattoon Masonic Lodge #260 A.F. & A.M., serving as Chaplain, District Deputy, past Master and Grand Master for six years. He was a member Mattoon VFW Post 4325 and Mattoon American Legion Post 88. His hobbies included camping, gardening, fishing with his wife, and watching squirrels, especially his little black one. He was a lifelong dedicated Chicago Cubs fan. Charles touched the lives of many and his memory will live on. Memorials in his honor are to be made to Mattoon Family Worship Center, 5475 Lerna Road, Mattoon, IL 61938. Please visit www.mitchell-jerdan.com or www.facebook.com/mitchelljerdanfuneralhome to light a virtual candle in his honor or share a memory with the family.