Wilma J. Cole

Wilma J. Cole, age 92, died Tuesday, February 24, 2015, at South Bay Manor where she has resided the past several years. She was for 66 years the wife of David P. Cole, before his death in 2010. Born Wilma Jean Stanton on August 21, 1923 in Syracuse, NY, she was fourth of six daughters of Alpha Gifford and Harry Stanton. Wilma & David’s children are Barbara Burford (Robert) of Narragansett, David Cole (Bernice) of Providence and John Cole (Lynn) of New London, NC. They were blessed with six grandchildren: Patrick David Burford (Tina) of Brownfield, ME, Jennifer Biafore (John) of Wakefield, Matthew Cole (Gail) of E. Lyme, CT, Andrew Cole of Providence, Erin Maher (Kevin) of Raleigh, NC and Megan Robinson (Trey) of Raleigh, NC. The great grandchildren are Olivia and Owen Burford, Joseph, Samuel and Maxwell Biafore and Lucas Maher. Wilma is predeceased by sisters, Marjorie Wass, Vera Whitford, Doris Morey and Norma Sherwood; her remaining sister is Avis Filkins who lives in Pennsylvania. Wilma’s entire life was devoted to volunteerism and social action. She and her husband raised their family in Webster, NY, increasingly active in local schools and education, the Civil Rights and the Peace movements. Volunteer work and participation in social justice causes continued during the 10 years associated with the University Of North Dakota and attending the Federated Church of Grand Forks. Her church life was most important to her, and upon moving to Rhode Island, she participated in numerous service committees of the Kingston Congregational Church for the 30 plus years they resided here. For many years, her other joy was working in the South County Hospital volunteer corps; she cried when it became apparent she no longer had the strength to keep working there. She was a frequent blood donor and did a stint as church secretary. She enjoyed cooking, sewing and knitting, of which she could be pleased with her precise hand work. She camped in her younger days, first with her parents and later with her own family. Her daughter’s Girl Scout Troop benefitted from outdoor cooking skills Wilma taught them. A most memorable vacation was canoeing the Boundary Waters of Minnesota. A Memorial Service will be held on Saturday, March 7, 2015, at 11:00 am in the Kingston Congregational Church, 2610 Kingstown Rd., Kingston, RI. Burial will be private. Visiting hours are respectfully omitted. Donations in lieu of flowers may be made to the church and its women’s fellowship and mission projects.