Bennett O. Cole

Bennett O. Cole, age 90, of New Castle, DE, passed away peacefully on Saturday, November 5, 2022. Born in Lynchburg, VA on September 17, 1932, he was the son of the late Homer Cole, Sr. and Sadie (McKenzie) Cole. Bennett grew up in Radford, VA, and graduated from Radford High School. He attended the University of Virginia, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1954. While there, Bennett was a member of the Naval ROTC. After graduation, he served three years in the US Navy as a LTJG, most of the time aboard an aircraft carrier, the USS Lake Champlain, with the Sixth Fleet in the Mediterranean. Bennett later achieved the rank of Lieutenant in the Navy Reserves. In civilian life, he became a Spanish professor and obtained his MA and Ph.D. degrees in Linguistics from the University of Delaware and Georgetown University respectively. Bennett’s approximately 33 years of teaching were spread among the University of Delaware, Virginia Tech and Florida Southern College, from which he retired in 1996. Among his many interests were foreign travel, reading, Bible studies, and mission trips. Prominent among Bennett’s most cherished memories are days spent playing varsity football in high school, and Navy days, which he shared abundantly with his children and grandchildren. In his retirement years, he published three novels. Most of all, however, Bennett relished his time shared with his loving wife of 53 years, Liz, his daughters, and grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his wife, Elizabeth in 2014, a daughter, Jane in 1981, and an infant son, Stephen in 1970. Bennett is survived by his daughters, Elizabeth Momcilovich and husband Mark of North East, MD, Kathryn Szymanski and husband Michael of New Castle, DE, and Carolyn Bonanno and husband Kevin of Manassas, VA; eight grandchildren, Seth, Lana, Katherine, Stephen, Sarah, Paul, Christina, and Charles; and two great-grandchildren, Ariel and Noah. A visitation for family and friends will be held from 10 am until 11 am on Monday, November 14, 2022, at Spicer-Mullikin Funeral Home, 1000 North DuPont Parkway, New Castle, DE, where a funeral service will begin at 11 am. Interment will be private for family in Gracelawn Memorial Park, 2220 North DuPont Highway, New Castle, DE. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Asbury United Methodist Church, 300 East Basin Road, New Castle, DE, 19720.

Bennett O. Cole

September 17, 1932 - November 5, 2022