Carol Lee (Ripley) Cole

Carol Lee (Ripley) Cole, 92, of Crestview, Florida, formerly of Brockton, Massachusetts, passed away peacefully on Friday June 26, 2026, at North Okaloosa Medical Center in Crestview, Florida.

Born on March 11, 1934, in West Bridgewater, Massachusetts. Carol was the beloved daughter of the late Joseph T. Ripley and Theodora Lee (Pinkham) Ripley.

Carol spent 57 years making her home at 22 Emerson Avenue in Brockton, Massachusetts before relocating to Crestview, Florida, in October 2009.

On June 22, 1951, Carol married the love of her life, Ronald Andrew Cole, at Porter Church in Brockton. They shared 44 devoted years of marriage until Ronald's passing on December 2, 1995. Ronald proudly served as a World War II cleanup veteran.

Carol began her career at Raytheon but chose to leave the workforce shortly after the birth of her son Michael. When she heard Michael call his grandmother "Mommy". Carol knew she wanted to be the one at home raising him. She made the decision to leave her job and devote herself full-time to her family. In the years that followed, she became a highly sought-after babysitter, lovingly caring for countless children. Her nurturing spirit, patience, and genuine love for children touched the lives of many families.

Following the tragic and heartbreaking death of her son, Dennis Robert Cole, on October 17, 1980, Carol faced one of life's greatest sorrows. The circumstances surrounding his death deeply affected her, and she carried that loss with her throughout the rest of her life. Wanting to help his sister, Richard Ripley, offered her a position at Alden Products in Brockton, where she began soldering medical equipment in January 1981. She remained there until retiring at the age of 69. At age 75, she relocated to Crestview, Florida where she enjoyed her retirement.

Carol was a member of Waldo Church on North Main Street in Brockton and faithfully served as a Sunday School teacher while her children were preschool age. She later became a member of Live Oak Church in Crestview. Carol truly loved children; her faith and kindness were evident in the way she cared for others.

Carol found joy in life's simple pleasures. She enjoyed embroidery, working word puzzles, dancing, and most famously, roller skating. From childhood well into her sixties, she could often be found circling the skating rink with a bright smile on her face. Family fondly remembers that while her daughter Debby completed one lap, Carol would happily skate two, always wearing the warm, loving smile that became her trademark.

Carol is survived by her first son, Michael Ronald Cole and his wife Se Wol (O) Cole, and Se Wol's son  Song Ki Kim; her only daughter, Debra Carol (Cole) Balboni and her husband Anchise Balboni; her cherished grandchildren, Cheryl Marlene (Cole) Young, Duane Michael Cole, Shahla Arlene (Cole) Carter; her beloved great-grandchildren, Carl Marden, Zachary Lankist, Taylor Cole, Alyssa Cole and Bradley Reed; her treasured great-great-grandchildren, Bella and Levi Marden, and Violet and Savanna Lankist; her siblings, June (Ripley) Pickett, Virginia (Ripley) Winnowitz, Joseph Ripley, Gary Ripley, and Robert Ripley.

In addition to her parents, Carol was preceded in death by her beloved son, Dennis Robert Cole, on October 17, 1980 and her devoted husband, Ronald Andrew Cole, on December 2, 1995; her brothers, Richard Ripley and Gordon Ripley; and her sisters Rosemary (Ripley) Laravie and Phyllis (Ripley) Cunningham.

Arrangements and services are under the direction of Davis-Watkins Crestview Memorial.