Professor, Community Volunteer, Fly Fisherman, Music Lover, Beloved Husband, Father, and Grandfather.
Dr. Cole Barton, 79, of Davidson, N.C., peacefully passed away on Wednesday, November 5, 2025, leaving behind a legacy of curiosity, kindness, and a contagious enthusiasm that made everyone he met grateful to know him.
Born in Texas to Ruth Lou Cole and Roger Darl Barton, Cole and his brother, Barry, grew up Air Force kids. He spent his youth in Canada; Harlingen, Texas; Las Vegas; and Hawaii. He navigated always being the new kid by impressing his teachers with good manners, making new friends on the baseball field, and excelling in school.
College took him to Logan, Utah, where he found his Pi Kappa Alpha brothers and the love of his life, Sydney Theurer Barton. They spent 57 years building a beautiful, adventure-filled life together, raising three children, Bret, Luke, and Amanda. He warmly embraced Kimberly (Bret) and Josh (Amanda) into the family, and delighted in his seven grandsons of whom he was exceptionally proud: Jackson, Logan, Barton, Colin, Quinlan, Waylon, and Franklin. He often would share stories of their antics and accomplishments, his eyes lighting up with awe and laughter.
After completing his doctorate at the University of Utah, Cole joined the Davidson College faculty in 1983 and later became the college’s inaugural C. Louise Nelson Professor of Psychology. Former students and colleagues have described “Dr. B.” as “cheerful, witty, selfless, down-to-earth, sensitive, honest, determined, and an all-around good guy.” One of his proudest professional accomplishments was being the recipient of the Hunter-Hamilton Love of Teaching Award, an honor given by peers that acknowledged his exceptional ability to inspire the potential in those he taught. His care and pride for his students stretched beyond the classroom, building relationships that extended well beyond graduation, mentoring them through career decisions, life transitions, and personal challenges with the same warmth and wisdom he brought to his lectures.
Cole’s impact was felt not only on campus but throughout the Town of Davidson. He most recently served on the board of the Davidson Housing Coalition, knocked on doors for local political campaigns, and was a fixture at the election day polls. He showed up for his community the same way he showed up for his students and his family: fully and with unwavering integrity.
Outside of work, Cole was an avid fly fisherman who found happiness not just in casting the latest fly rod but in the fellowship of anyone willing to join him on the stream. Teaching his kids to fish on the Greys, South Holston, and Watauga rivers was one of his greatest joys. Just days before his passing, while fishing alongside a favorite stream companion, he declared it had been “the best fishing day ever.”
He was a true music aficionado, with a deep appreciation for all kinds of music, especially the Blues. He was a fan of live shows and curating the perfect playlists. He had an instinctive sense for the exact song the moment called for. Ever the enthusiastic novice, he also tinkered with the cigar box guitar, harmonica, and even the accordion.
A man of quiet faith, he began each morning journaling and reading his devotionals. He enjoyed Summit Coffee and lingering, reflective conversations from his brown leather chair. On Fall Sundays you would find him loyally suffering through a Panthers game. He had a talent for drawing, creating funny cartoons for his grandkids’ birthdays. He was always up for a cold beer, whether catching up with a student or friend, exploring a new craft brewery on one of his and Sydney’s many road-trip adventures, or gathering with his Monday night brew crew.
His love and legacy will continue to shape the many who felt the impact of his presence.
In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made in his name to Cole Barton Davidson Research Initiative Support Fund via Davidson College, Box 5000, 209 Ridge Road, Davidson NC 28035 at: https://community.davidson.edu/gift-form ( choose “Other” in Designation dropdown menu and type in “Cole Barton Davidson Research Initiative Fund”) or the Davidson Housing Coalition, 220-A Sloan Street, Davidson, NC 28036 (https://davidsonhousing.org), two places where Cole found deep purpose and community. Details of his celebration of life will be shared soon.
A memorial service will be held on Friday, January 16, 2026 at 1:00 p.m. at the Duke Family Performance Hall on the Davidson College campus.