David Ross Noble

Dr. David Ross Noble lived as he died, always on his own terms. David was unique. A true individual. True to himself and his own set of values. He spent everyday of his life with a lust for learning, living and taking it all in at his own pace. He didn't waste a second of his life being bored. After receiving his undergraduate and master's degrees in English from West Virginia University, David completed his doctorate at Carnegie Mellon University. A gifted teacher, he taught American and British literature as well as writing at several colleges and universities including Marshall University and Wheeling Jesuit University. He spent the last 30 years of his career at Ohio University Eastern where he was voted professor of the year. His teaching style, knowledge of his subject matter and love for his students set him apart as a professor. Son of Sarah and Ross Noble, David was born and raised in Charleston, WV. He played trombone in the Charleston High School Mountain Lion Marching Band. The group was so skilled, they were asked to lead the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in 1960. David marched on the front rank of the first band in this parade. He spoke of it often as a memory of a lifetime. From 1966-1972, David was a member of the West Virginia National Guard, 201st Artillery, Fairmont, WV where he served as a medic and an ambulance driver. David was witty with an uncanny ability to tell a story and laugh at himself as easily as the situation. Nothing he loved more than bantering with friends and family. He was entertaining and easily entertained by a broad spectrum of interests. David loved Atlantic coast beaches, Poe, Shakespeare, Doo-Wop music and film noir. He was fascinated by national and international news and could pronounce even the most esoteric world leader from any country, often with an anecdote of his or her most recent edict. He loved nature and wild animals, especially African, even facetiously adopting the odd sound of a male wildebeest as an optional greeting. David loved his family and friends fiercely. He told hours of magical stories about the Hunkitchy Man, a wild old man of the woods from West Virginian folklore, to enraptured sons and nieces and nephews. He was a romantic who saw the world in soft focus as well as full of truths and ironies. He could be a crusty curmudgeon who covered a soft and sentimental heart. Never simple, often complicated, being around David Noble was an adventure. Whether telling a story or living it, he pulled you in for the ride. David married and divorced Susan D. Ezell twice. With each marriage he had one son, Ross Ezell Noble (Candice Nowak Noble) of Olney, MD and James David Noble of Baltimore, MD. David was fondly known as "The Giant" to his two grandsons, Desmond and Walter. He is survived by two sisters, Kay Noble Eckert and Nancy Noble Peck (J. Marshall). As his story on this earth has come to an end, David Ross Noble lives on in the hearts and minds of his children, sisters, nieces and nephews and friends. And the hundreds of students' lives he changed by opening their minds to their own possibilities and the wealth of knowledge found in American and British literature. Memorial service will be held for Dr. David Ross Noble at 3:00 p.m. on Saturday, October 1, 2016 at Pittsburgh Field Club, 1882 Tavern , 121 Field Club Road , Fox Chapel, PA 15238. Reception immediately following. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Dr. David Noble Memorial Fund, c/o Ohio University Foundation, PO Box 869, Athens, OH 45701.

David Ross Noble

June 29, 1944 - August 31, 2016