Bud Cole of Northampton, died on July 21, 2017, in St. Luke’s Hospital and Health Network, Bethlehem, after a long illness.

Born in Allentown, he was the son of the late Bernard G. Cole and the late Alvona (Sterner) Cole.

He graduated from Whitehall High School in June 1962 and headed to East Stroudsburg University in August to pursue a Bachelor of Science degree in education.

He graduated in May 1966 with a Bachelor of Science degree in elementary education with a specialty in health and physical education and was certified in driver education and outdoor education.

A member of Sigma Pi, ESSC, he served for many years as the ESSC Sigma Pi, Beta Psi Alumni president.

A dedicated and creative educator who taught fourth, fifth, and sixth grades in Northampton Area School District from 1966-99, he awakened a love of science and the outdoors in many of his students.

In 1981, he received the Northampton County Conservation District Outdoor Educator of the Year Award.

He served as the Northampton Borough Schools PTA president and worked on many education committees and projects.

He also showed his love of nature, his concern for the environment, and his enthusiasm for bettering his community through countless hours of volunteer service.

Affiliated with the National Ski Patrol for 47 years, he volunteered at the Walnutport Canal Lock House Museum, Lehigh Gap Nature Center, Slatington, State Theatre, Easton, and the Wildlands Conservancy, Emmaus.

He was co-founder and vice president of the Bertsch-Hokendauqua-Catasauqua Watershed Association.

Although he said English was never his favorite topic to teach, after retiring from teaching he discovered a passion and flair for writing and photography, particularly about the wonders of nature and the outdoor life.

Through his writing, he combined his intense curiosity about nature, his love of animals, his deep enjoyment of meeting and talking with new people, and his delightful sense of humor.

An active member and board member of the Pennsylvania Outdoor Writers Association and active member of the Outdoors Writers of America Association, he received a certificate in 2010 from the POWA board of directors for outstanding service to the organization.

He has won awards for his writing and photography with awards from POWA in 2012, 2013, 2014, and 2015 Professional Keystone Newspaper Award for his outdoor column, Bud’s View, and in 2017, a first-place award for his sports/outdoor column.

The column has been published in eight regional Lehigh Valley Press weekly newspapers.

His freelance work was published in Pennsylvania Magazine, Pennsylvania Game News, Pennsylvania Angler and Boater, Baltimore Recreational News, National Bear Foundation and Ohio Valley Outdoors.

He wrote two children’s novels, “The Mystery of Little Bear” and the soon-to-be published “Bear and Buddy’s Remarkable Adventures.”

One of his proudest moments was learning he had been named the recipient of the 2016 Helen G. Brown Award from ESU for his accomplishments as an educator, journalist and enthusiast of nature and the outdoors.

He was married to Beverly L. (Cole) Cole for 24 years.

She shared his love of travel, gardening, skiing, snowshoeing, kayaking, hiking and many other outdoor activities.

Both were adjunct professors at Northampton Community College instructing both children and adults.

They created and were co-directors of the The Three B’S Mobile Nature Center and they traveled throughout the United States and abroad on Bud’s writing trips and for their own learning and enrichment.

Their interests in the outdoors inspired them to lead trips skiing in Europe, New England, Western U.S. and explorations in Ecuador’s Cloud Forest and the Galapagos Islands.

A Celebration of Life Service will take place 4 p.m. July 31 at Blue Mountain Resort-Summit Lodge, 1660 Blue Mountain Drive, Palmerton.

Memorial contributions may be made to The Wildlands Conservancy, Emmaus, and Lehigh Gap Nature Center, Slatington.

Condolences may be offered the family at schislerfuneralhomes.com.

Arrangements were made by Schisler Funeral Home, Northampton.

Read Bud’s final column and friends’ remembrances on page B8.