James Wilfred Cole

James W. Cole, known to most as “Jim,” died peacefully on March 27, 2023, after a brief, but brave, battle with lung cancer. Jim was born on March 4, 1947 to Pauline Young and Rupert Cole in Jeffersonville, Vermont. He grew up nearby in North Hyde Park with Polly, her husband Dick Alexander, and his younger sisters, Sandra, Sharon, and Marion. He also spent much time with his beloved grandparents, Wilfred and Ida Young, in Belvidere. After graduating from Johnson High School in 1967, he enlisted in the US Army and served his country in Germany and Vietnam. In 1972, he married Cathy Waterhouse in Craftsbury, Vermont where they raised a daughter, Rhonda and a son, Wayland, and then later, Rhonda’s two daughters, April and Jenna. His heart broke forever on August 13, 1994, when we lost Rhonda, April and Jenna in a tragic accident. Jim eventually remarried to Betsy Faunce and made a home with her in Morrisville, Vermont, then later in Underhill, Vermont; Manhattan, Montana; and Pahrump, Nevada. He was a caring step-father to Wendy, Lisa, Susan and Heidi, and a devoted Pop-Pop to Connor, Abby, Ellie, and Layne. In 2020, Jim embarked on his final adventure, leaving Nevada and moving to Hartsville, South Carolina. Once there, he met the final love of his life, Mary, whom he married in August 2022. Jim was predeceased by his mother Polly, his step-father Dick, his sister Sharon, his daughter Rhonda, and his granddaughters April and Jenna. He is survived by his wife Mary of Hartsville, South Carolina; his son Wayland James and wife Sarah, and their son August James, of Burlington, Vermont; his sister Sandra Tilton and husband Pete of Hartsville, South Carolina; his sister Marion Genest of Colchester, Vermont; his nieces Darci, Kayla, and Carol and their families; and his stepchildren and their children. A twenty-eight year veteran of the US Army and Army Reserves, including tours in Vietnam and Operation Desert Storm in the Persian Gulf, Jim will be laid to rest at the Vermont Veterans’ Memorial Cemetery in Randolph, Vermont. In lieu of flowers, please make contributions in Jim’s memory to Freedom Service Dogs of America, a foundation that trains service dogs to support US veterans and other people with physical and emotional needs. Family is being assisted by Stoudenmire-Dowling Funeral Home in Florence, SC. Please sign the Guest Book for the family at www.stoudenmiredowling.com.