Donald William Noble

Donald W. Noble, of Plymouth, formerly of Hingham, passed away on Easter Sunday, April 1, 2018, at the age of 92.

He was born on April 26, 1925 to John J. and Louise (Ernst) Noble in Leonia, NJ where he grew up. He lived his childhood next door to his aunt and uncle and his cousins Bob and Bernie Hufnagel with whom he shared many adventures and who were like brothers to him.

Donald attended Dartmouth College as part of the WWII V12 Navy College Officer Training program where he spent 3 semesters. He was sent to continue his engineering training and education at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). After the war ended, he reapplied to MIT as a civilian, and graduated with a degree in Aeronautical Engineering in 1948. Many of his classmates remained his lifelong friends and through the years he enthusiastically organized several reunions for the class of 1948.

After a few years of working in the aeronautical engineering industry, he eventually became a manufacturers rep first for ILG Fans for whom he marketed and sold ventilation equipment and systems for commercial and industrial buildings. He founded Donald W. Noble Associates Inc. and expanded his business representing various HVAC manufacturers and product lines and marketing the latest technology and mechanical systems. He enjoyed marketing and selling and continued rich, lifelong relationships with many of his business colleagues.

Donald enjoyed traveling and sailing to the Caribbean with his late wife Nancy as well as with business colleagues. His passion for sailing started as a child as did his love for skating and skiing, all of which he carried on with his children. He enthusiastically supported his grandchildren’s athletic endeavors by attending countless sporting events in which they participated. He also enjoyed reading and taking apart and fixing anything mechanical. Appliances lasted forever with his adept mechanical talent. His family was everything to him and he lovingly provided for nothing less than the best for everyone in his life. He had a light and wonderful sense of humor and was a patient, understanding, and intensely caring and devoted man to all who were blessed to know him.   

Donald is the beloved husband of the late Nancy N. Noble, loving father to Deborah Noble of Concord, VT, Patricia Bailey and her husband John of Fairfield, CT, Craig Noble and his wife Christina of Hingham, MA, Laura Shannon and her husband Michael of Williamsburg, VA, Dr. Stacie Noble Shriver and her husband Gary of Rochester, MA, Linh Tran of Quincy, MA, and the late Pamela Noble-Hill. He is the cherished grandfather to 18 grandchildren and 1 great grandchild. Donald is brother-in-law of Patricia Thompson of Tehachapi, CA, and Susan Thanas of Duxbury. He is also survived by many admiring nieces and nephews who look up to his steadfast and loving example.

Visiting hours will be held at the Downing Cottage Funeral Chapel, 21 Pond Street Hingham, on Friday, April 6, 2018 from 4 to 7 p.m. All relatives and friends are respectfully invited to attend. A funeral service will be held at the New North Church, 1 Lincoln Street Hingham, on Saturday, April 7, 2018 at 11 a.m. Interment will be held at the High Street Cemetery in Hingham following the funeral service. 

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