Charlot Cole | 84 | Virden

Charlot Cole, age 84, of rural Virden, IL, was surrounded by loving family as she passed away on April 13, 2026. Charlot Ray Range was born on June 12, 1941, to Jesse and Wilma Range of rural Greenfield, IL.Charlot filled her earthly time with hard work, meaningful pursuits, and steadfast relationships. Her deep and unwavering love for her husband, Kendall Cole, was evident daily. Charlot had a passion for learning and teaching, and was devoted to her faith, family, and any child who needed love.
Charlot grew up on a Greene County, IL, farm, attended Greenfield High School, and studied business administration at Hardin-Brown School of Business in Jacksonville, IL. She married Kendall Paul Cole on August 28, 1960, at Greenfield Baptist Church, Greenfield, IL, and remained his loving wife for over 65 years. The couple resided in Champaign while Kendall completed college, and later settled in Virden, IL, to farm and raise three children.
Charlot was a nurturer who understood the power of listening. She often found teachable moments in daily life—teaching her grandchildren to bait a hook, clean fish, gig frogs, grow vegetables, and make homemade applesauce. In the community, she held leadership roles at the Virden Church of the Brethren, taught Sunday school, and sang in the choir. She was a Macoupin County election judge and an Illinois Soybean Association Soy Spokesperson, educating consumers about the impact of Illinois’ soybean crop. Charlot was a 4-H club leader, an avid gardener, and a Certified Master Preserver providing community instruction on food preservation. She volunteered for the Franklin-Waverly Military Support Group and was a member of the Country Mutual Funds Board from 1996 to 2010. She managed these roles while raising three children, driving trucks and tractors, delivering meals and parts, and serving as bookkeeper for Cole Farm, Inc.
At the age of 60, Charlot received an associate’s degree from Lincoln Land Community College. As part of her education, she and Kendall studied for a month in China, returning the following year as part of an Illinois Farm Bureau market study. She then worked as a teacher’s aide, supporting special needs children in the North Macoupin School District for 7 years. Later in life, she cared for children displaced by natural disasters as a volunteer for Child Disaster Services, a division of Brethren Disaster Ministries. Her service included caregiving after the Napa Valley wildfires, Hurricane Katrina, Florida hurricanes, and Missouri tornadoes.
Charlot is survived by her husband, Kendall Cole of Virden; and by her sister, Guylia Loftus (Jim), of Springfield, IL; her children, Farley (Annette) Cole of Girard, IL; Claudine (Thomas) Wargel of Rochester, IL; and Darren (Cassie) Cole of Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, NJ. Also surviving are eight grandchildren: Alyssa (Eddie) Emery, Danielle (Luke) Leonard, Austin Cole, Theron Cole, Alex Cole, Nathan Cole, Landon Wargel, and Kinser Wargel; and three great-grandchildren: Gabriel Emery, Lucille Emery, and Ambrose Emery. Charlot was preceded in death by her parents and brothers, Wilfred Range, Loyal Range, and Vern Range.
A visitation was held at Airsman-Calvert Funeral Home in Virden from 6-8 p.m. on Friday, April 17. A Celebration of Charlot’s Life was held at 10 a.m. on Saturday, April 18, at the Virden Church of the Brethren. A visitation was held one hour prior to the service at the church. Memorial donations may be made to Child Disaster Services, to the Alzheimer’s Association, or to Virden Church of the Brethren. Online condolences may be shared with the family at airsmancalvert.com