EDWYNA C. COLE

SCARBOROUGH – Edwyna C. Cole, 91, recently of Piper Shores, Scarborough, passed away peacefully Dec. 14, 2006, at Holbrook Health Center. Edwyna was born Dec. 20, 1914, in Brewer, the child of Henry Cohlan and Chrystal Homer. She attended Bangor High School and the Northfield School, Northfield, Mass. Edwyna married Gerald A. Cole in 1934, a marriage that was to endure for more than 71 years. Gerald passed away Feb. 1, 2006. With Edwyna’s steadfast help and support, Gerald would become senior vice president of the family business, Coles Express. In the early days of the then fledgling company, Edwyna was even known to hop into a truck and drive it for a while so that Gerald could sleep. On one occasion, Gerald and Edwyna hurriedly left a formal evening function during a snowstorm to repair a broken-down truck so that its cargo could be delivered on time. Edwyna in her gown holding the flashlight while Gerald in his tuxedo was turning a wrench must have been quite a sight! In 1941, Edwyna and Gerald moved from Bangor to Portland, where they resided for the next 62 years. Edwyna was a dedicated homemaker and the mother of four children with birth dates spanning two decades. She enjoyed gardening and knitting, as well as lively games of bridge and canasta with friends and family. Edwyna was a member of Woodfords Congregational Church, Portland, where she was active in King’s Daughters and the Whatsoever Class. She also was a long-standing member of the Ladies of Kiwanis of Portland, the Woman’s Woodfords Club and the Northfield Club. Edwyna was the founder of the Jesse D. Munger Scholarship Fund of the Northfield Mount Herman School and was honored by the Dwight L. Moody Society for her outstanding philanthropy. This philanthropy also included the Jimmy Fund for children’s cancer research and Woodfords Congregational Church. Edwyna was predeceased by two children, Rebecca Cole and David L. Cole. She is survived by two children, Sandra Cole Parsons of Oregon and Kevin T. Cole of Portland; 10 grandchildren, several great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren; three sisters, Lois Jean Moore of Bangor, Beverly Howard of Hampden and Pamela Adams of Levant. A memorial service will be conducted 11 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 6, at the Woodfords Congregational Church, Portland. After the service there will be a brief reception. In lieu of flowers, please make donations to Woodfords Congregational Church. Arrangements are by Jones Rich & Hutchins Funeral Home.