Ron Cole, native of California, and long-time North Carolina resident, died in hospice care in Asheville, NC, on July 3, 2024, after a long illness. He was born October 25, 1956. Ron had been married to Nancy Mamlin since 1996. He is survived by his wife and his sister, Lori Cole (Richard Lamasney). His father, Ed Cole, died in 1991, and his mother, Sheila Kantor, died in 2023.
Ron was an electrician by trade. His company was Trevco Electric, and he worked under that name in Asheville, Boone, and Durham, wiring new homes and doing service work on existing homes. He was well-known throughout the country as an old-time musician. He played fiddle and guitar and was a fine singer. He was known for his “squirrely tunes” and rags. Some of the bands he was in were The Blue Ridge Mountain Minstrels, The Blue Ridge Road Gang, The Carolina Jug Stompers, The Piedmont Rhythm Aces, and the Bull City Rascals. He was also sought after as a dance musician with those groups and others. Aside from his musical interests, he was a lover of old cars, gardening, and a mighty fine cook as well.
A celebration of Ron’s life will be held in the Durham area at a date to be determined.
Memorial contributions may be made in his name to an organization of your choice, or to any of the following: National Alliance on Mental Illness (https://donate.nami.org/RonCole), Junior Appalachian Musicians (jamkids.org/memorials), or the Spondylitis Association of America (spondylitis.org).
or, donations may be made by check to:
Junior Appalachian Musicians, Inc
PO Box 44
Independence, VA 24348
For other contribution options, please contact Brett Morris, Executive Director, at [email protected]