Julia Cole

Julia Bell Cooke Cole, 89, of Nokesville, VA, died Sunday, May 26, 2013, at her home. Treasured by her family and friends, she was known for her graciousness, her sharp mind, her independent spirit, and her love of wildflowers and birds. Julia was born on September 30, 1923, in Burgettstown, PA, to the late Homer Cooke and Beulah Bell Cooke. Her father was a dairy farmer, and she grew up assisting him on the family farm. Upon graduating from Westminster College in 1945, she moved to Washington, DC, where she worked at the Department of Agriculture. In July of 1946, she married Dr. Samuel Cole. During the early years of their marriage, she worked in his optometric practices in the Virginia towns of Alexandria, Culpeper and Orange before the family moved to Manassas in 1955. From the 1960s to the present, she and her family enjoyed living on small farms on Lucasville Road in Manassas and Aden Road in Nokesville. Julia was a wonderful nurturer of her large extended family. She was predeceased by her beloved husband of 61 years, Samuel Cole, who died in 2008. She is survived by her son, James Cole, of Centreville, VA; daughter, Ann Cole Paciulli, and husband, Chip Paciulli, of Purcellville, VA; and daughter, Juliana Cole Babicz, and husband, John Babicz, of Nokesville, VA. She is also survived by six grandchildren: Aaron Cole and wife, Nikki, of Centreville, VA; Juliana Paciulli of Los Angeles, CA; Lauren Babicz Rucker and husband, Hal Rucker, of Manassas, VA; Sarah Paciulli of Richmond, VA; Richard Samuel Babicz of Richmond, VA; and Celeste Cole of Manassas, VA. She is also survived by a great-granddaughter, Ayla Bell Cole, as well as many dear nieces and nephews. A memorial service will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, June 8, 2013, at Pierce Funeral Home, 9609 Center Street, Manassas, VA with Reverend Marci Huntsman officiating. The family will receive friends at their Nokesville home following the service. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in Julia Cole's memory to WAMU, 4400 Massachusetts AVE, NW, Brandywine Building, Washington, DC, 20016, or the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, 159 Sapsucker Woods RD, Ithaca, NY, 14850.

Julia Cole

September 30, 1923 - May 26, 2013