Norman Hamilton Cole, Jr, 94, of Talcott, West Virginia passed away peacefully in his sleep at home on February 7th, 2026.

Born March 15, 1931, in Bristol, Tennessee, he was the son of the late Norman Hamilton Cole and Margaret Lee Addison Cole.

In addition to his parents, he is preceded in death by his beloved wife of 64 years, Cherie Briner Cole, his sister, Linda Cole Schaecher, and his granddaughter Jennifer Michelle Wynes.

Left to cherish his memory are his children, Pamela Lee Cole Wynes (William) of Talcott, West Virginia, Christi Ann Cole Bricco (Gordon) of Bull Shoals, Arkansas, Alta Sue Cole of Wirtz, Virginia, and Norman Hamilton Cole, III (Missy) of Athens, West Virginia, his grandchildren, Elisa Jayne Nearhoof (Jeremy), Christopher Andrew Parker (Kassondra), William Lee Wynes, III (Vanessa), Norman Hamilton Cole, IV, and Calvin Arthur Cole, six great-grandchildren, two great-great grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews.

After graduating from Randolph-Macon Academy, he attended the Ohio State University where he was in the ROTC and earned his degree in Ornamental Horticulture. Upon graduation, he entered the military and served a short period at Fort Knox before he and Cherie were married and his assignment to post-war Germany. Upon return to the United States, they lived in Springville, Virginia before moving to Talcott, West Virginia where he and his father operated Cole Nurseries until his retirement.

He was well respected in the nursery industry, in time serving as President to the West Virginia Nursery and Landscape Association, the Southern Nursery Association, and as a MANTS Board Member.

He was a member of Trinity United Methodist Church, the Ruritan, and the Masonic Lodge, and was instrumental in the effort to raise funds, design, and install the John Henry Memorial statue in Talcott.

Services to celebrate Norman's life will be held at 11:00 a.m. Saturday March 7, 2026 at Pivont Funeral Home Chapel in Hinton with Rev. Sam Groves officiating. Interment will follow in Barger Springs Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 10:00 a.m. until 11:00 a.m. on Saturday at the funeral home.