William C. Cole III

He was born in Utica, NY on December 16, 1936 to the late William C. Cole, Jr. and Helen Brady Cole. He came to Martinsville in 1941, where he graduated from Martinsville High School in 1955. He was an alumnus of the University of Virginia.

Cole began a long career in the textile industry in Martinsville in 1958, first with Tully, a division of Sale Knitting Co., and then with Sale Knitting, where he was personnel manager from 1968 until he was named corporate personnel director in 1971. When the company became part of Tultex Corp., he stayed with the corporation as vice president of human resources, the position he held until retiring in May of 1994.

He was a lifelong community and church leader and served on numerous boards and committees.

He was a member of the Martinsville Jaycees from 1962-1976 and was president in 1969. In 1970, the Martinsville Jaycees honored him with the Distinguished Service Award for Martinsville and Henry County.

He was a member of the Blue Ridge Personnel Association from 1965-1994 and was president in 1970. He served as Scoutmaster with the Boy Scouts of America’s District Committee in 1976 and was on the Family YMCA board from 1965-1967.

He served in several capacities with the United Way of Martinsville and Henry County, including the campaign cabinet 1968-1972; as president in 1973; and on the board of directors from 1972-1989.

Cole was on the Piedmont Community Services Board from 1981 to 1984 and was chairman in 1983. From 1988 to 1994, he served on the Patrick Henry Community College Board and was chairman of the building committee.

He had been a member of Christ Episcopal Church since 1941, where he served two vestry terms. During these terms he was secretary/treasurer and chairman of the finance committee.

He was a former member of Chatmoss Country Club and was on the board of directors from 1986 to 1989, serving as treasurer in 1988.

Surviving are his wife, Elizabeth Carper Cole of the residence; two sons, William C. Cole, IV of Los Gatos, CA, Lester Carper Cole and wife Heather of Pawleys Island, SC; five grandchildren, William Cutler Cole V, John Nolan Cole, Patrick Pearse Cole, Dylan Conor Cole and Carter Gleason Cole; three godchildren, Philip Randolph Isley of Raleigh, NC, Elizabeth Carrington Cole Madden of New York, NY and Cary Cole Happe of Snellville, GA; a sister, Cary Cole Happe also of Snellville, GA; one brother, Charles Taylor “Charlie” Cole of Roanoke.

The funeral will be held on Tuesday, February 15, 2011 at 11:00 A.M at Christ Episcopal Church with the Rev. Russ Ingersoll officiating. Interment will follow in Oakwood Cemetery.

The family will receive friends on Monday from 4:00 to 5:30 P.M. at Collins-McKee-Stone Funeral Home, Martinsville Chapel.

Memorials may be made to Christ Episcopal Church, P. O. Box 4162, Martinsville, VA 24115, or the American Cancer Society, 1079 Spruce Street, Martinsville, 24112.