Shirley Ilene Cole, 89, of Pinehurst, passed away on March 10, 2018 at her home.

She was born on October 1, 1928 in Dayton, Ohio to the late Bernard and Helen Santo. Her family moved to Sidney, Ohio where she grew up and attended Sidney High School. She graduated in the Class of 1946, with High Honors and was elected to the National Honor Society. After high school she became Private Secretary to Executive Vice-President of the Monarch Machine Tool Company.

On November 26, 1950 she married the love of her life, Ralph Cole and after the birth of their first son in 1952 she became a full time Mom, raising three sons and one daughter. After 20 years in Cleveland, Ohio she and Ralph relocated to Pinehurst in 1988. She enjoyed volunteering at Given Memorial Library and became the “Story Lady” for the children’s reading program. She ran the summer reading program for several years in addition to serving on the Library Board of Directors
for three years.

Shirley and Ralph loved traveling and visiting many countries in Europe, Scandinavia, England and Russia. She was a Patron of the North Carolina Museum of Art and regularly attended the North Carolina Symphony Orchestra concerts. Shirley and Ralph are members of the Pinehurst Country Club.

In addition to her parents, Shirley was preceded in death by siblings, James Santo (Ruth), Joann Bales (Jack), Jack Wise (Peg); and one grandson, Andrew Cole.

She is survived by her husband of 67 years, Ralph F. Cole; three sons, David (Linda), Gary and Daniel Cole; one daughter, Susan Angeloff (Robert); one brother, Frederick Santo (Kathy); also survived by five grandchildren, Ian Cole, Jennifer Allen (James), Angela Cole, Savannah Cole and Clarissa Angeloff and four Great-Grand-children; Emily, Hannah and Anthony Cole and Samuel Cole Allen.

A memorial service will be held on Saturday, March 17, 2018 at 3:00PM at Community Congregational Church, 141 North Bennett Street, Southern Pines, NC.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to FirstHealth Hospice Foundation, 150 Applecross Road, Pinehurst, NC 28374.

Boles Funeral Home and Crematory, Inc.in Southern Pines will be assisting the family.

To send flowers or a remembrance gift to the family of Shirley Ilene Cole, please visit Boles’ Tribute Store.

Online condolences: BolesFuneralHome.com.

Mrs. Cole’s family and friends are in our thoughts and prayers at Sandhills Sentinel.