Charles Chatfield Cole Jr., 74, of Lower Macungie Township, died Jan. 10, 2020. He was the husband of Joan Cole for 51 years. Born in Waterbury, Conn., he was the son of Charles Chatfield Cole and Dorothy (Oldershaw) Cole.

He graduated from Crosby High School (Waterbury) and received a Bachelor of Science degree in mechanical engineering from Pennsylvania Military College (now Widener University).

He held a professional engineer license in Pennsylvania. He was a member and past chairman of the Lehigh Valley Chapter of the American Welding Society and a member of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers and the American Society for Metals.

He served as a lieutenant in the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers at Aberdeen Proving Ground in Maryland, where he worked in reliability engineering and in Vietnam, where he supervised the building of roads and airfields.

He worked for PPL for 33 years in various capacities in welding, materials and failure analysis, retiring as senior welding engineer in the welding and materials group.

He was a Cub and Boy Scout leader when his sons were young and all his life was an ardent advocate for and donor to the arts. He was a former board member of the Civic Theatre of Allentown. He was a trombone player in various groups all through grade school, high school and college, during which time he developed a love of music, particularly classical. He also enjoyed cooking and traveling all over the world with his wife.

He is survived by his wife; sons Charles and his wife, Shara Gustman, of Weston, Fla.; Christopher and his wife, Donna, of Hunt Valley, Md; grandchildren, Maia, Lauren and Levi.

Memorial contributions in his name may be made to the Allentown Symphony Association 23 N. Sixth St., Allentown, 18101.

A celebration of his life will be held at a later date. Arrangements were made by the J.S. Burkholder Funeral Home, Allentown.