Charles Cole graduated from Rocky River High School in 1964 and served a four-year tour of active duty with the United States Army Security Agency from 1965-1969.  He received a B.A. in Russian and German from Kent State University in 1972 and a Master of Arts Degree in Teaching Foreign Languages in 1988 from the Monterey Institute of International Studies in Monterey, California.  He served in various capacities from Language Instructor to School Dean at the Defense Language Institute in Monterey from 1973 until his retirement in 2002.  He and his wife Vera live in Mayfield Heights.

Charles comes from a Masonic family.  His father has been a Master Mason since 1938 and his mother was a member of OES for most of her adult life.  He discovered DeMolay with the help of his father and joined Rocky River Chapter in 1963.  He was invested with the DeMolay Legion of Honor (Active) in 2004 and is a Frank S. Land Fellow, a Life Member of the DeMolay Alumni Association, and a member of Senior DeMolay Mark Master Lodge #2.   

Charles was raised in Lakewood Lodge #601 in 1970.  He is a Past Master of Heights – Lion Heart Lodge #633 and a member of Lyndhurst Lodge #508.  He is an officer in Heights Chapter #206, RAM, and in Cleveland Chapter #23 of the National Sojourners, and is a Past President of the Lyndhurst Masonic Senior Citizens Club.  He is also a member of Woodward Council #118, Coeur de Lion Commandery #64, the Cleveland Memorial Lodge, the Southern California Research Lodge, the Ohio Lodge of Research (Associate), Clarence O’Neal Council #53 AMD, the Philalethes Society, and the Scottish Rite Valley of Cleveland.  He has completed the Grand Lodge of Ohio Series IV and Series V Masonic education courses and the 2005 Masonic Code Course.  Charles is the editor of the Heights – Lion Heart Lodge bulletin, the Cable Tow.