Wanda Case Cole

We woke up today for the first time in our lives without our beautiful and selfless Mother. Wanda Case Cole passed away peacefully on Tuesday, July 2, surrounded by her loving family. She was an incredible woman and will be missed not only by her family but by the countless people whose lives she touched and changed throughout her 80 years.

Wanda was the middle child of Chad and Edith Case of Canton, NC. She is survived by her two brothers, Larry Case and his wife Julie of Canton, NC, and Ronald Case and his wife Sandy of Horseshoe, NC, as well as two sisters, Joyce Long and her husband Paul of Gaffney, SC and Dianne Lawrence of Lake Greenwood, SC.

Raised in the Morning Star community of Canton, Wanda was a proud product of The Haywood County Public Schools and a member of the class of 1962 of Canton High School. She married the late Dee Cole in 1961 and they were married for 49 years until his death in 2010. She was also preceded in death by her son-in-law, David Glance, who passed away in 2001.

Wanda was a dependable and loyal employee at Stiles Mart in downtown Canton. For over 30 years, you could always count on being greeted by her beautiful and energetic smile. Later in her life, she devoted herself to supporting her grandson Canie, serving as his direct support person and providing her unwavering guidance and love.

She grew up as a member of Dutch Cove Baptist Church, and upon her marriage to Dee, joined Plains United Methodist Church, where she remained a faithful member for the past 63 years. She was an integral part of the choir and held many positions in the church, including being the president of the United Methodist Women and the director of the United Methodist Youth.

Wanda is also survived by her grateful children. Retired Major US Army Special Forces Rob Cole and his wife Judy of Pagosa Springs, CO and Rhonda Cole Schandevel and her husband Jeff of Canton, NC. Left to cherish their “Bubba” are her grandsons, Canie Glance of Canton, NC, Mike Cole and his wife Nancy of Jackson Springs, NC, and their children, Cameron and Dalton, Matt Cole and his wife Kari of Pagosa Springs, CO, and their children Taylor, Morgan, Mike and Kodi.

We wish to thank her dear friend George Foster, who brought such delight and companionship to her later years, her Four Seasons Hospice team and her sister Dianne for their care, kindness and patience during her illness.  

A memorial service to honor Mrs. Cole will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Wednesday, July 10, 2024 in the Canton Chapel of Wells Funeral Home with The Reverend Zack Christy officiating. The family will receive friends immediately following the service. 

Our Mother was a force to be reckoned with and never let anything “get the best” of her. She loved fiercely and madly and advocated for all, especially for our special needs community, which she worked tirelessly to help and support. Therefore, in lieu of flowers, donations in her memory should be made to The Arc of Haywood County, 407 Welch Street, Waynesville, NC  28786.

The care of Mrs. Cole has been entrusted to Wells Funeral Home of Canton and an online memorial register is available at “Obituaries” at www.wellsfuneralhome.com