Robert Dale Noble, Sr.

Robert Dale Noble, Sr. a beloved family man, passed away this Tues, December 5th, 2023. He was 91 years old.

Robert, who was known as Bob, was born in 1932 in Atlanta, Ga. He was the youngest son born to Walter Barnes Noble, Sr. and Julia Dale Fendley Noble of Atlanta, Ga. Bob had two older sisters, Winifred Noble Blanton and husband, Don of Lexington, N.C. and Jean Noble Schnedl and husband, Ed of Alexandria, Va.; all of who proceeded him in death. He is survived by his older brother, Walter Barnes Noble, Jr. and his wife, Joyce. Bob was married to Sylvia Lee Allen of Charlotte, NC in 1951 after eloping when she was just 15 and he was 18. He chuckles when telling the story of how he had to get a friend to deliver his paper route that morning. Bob and Sylvia had three children, all boys: Robert Dale Noble Jr. of Statesville, N.C., Paul Allen Noble of Charlotte N.C. and the youngest, Stephen Clements Noble of York, S.C. They were married for 69 years. Sylvia passed away at age 85 in 2020 after a long battle with Alzheimer’s. Paul passed away 7 months before his mother from a short bout with Pancreatic Cancer. Bob Sr. is also survived by his two sons Bob, Jr., and his wife, Freda Kay, and Stephen Noble; his two granddaughters, Candace Noble Jaminski, her husband James of Mooresville, N.C. and Julia Dale Noble of Houston, Tx; his three great-grandchildren, Noah James Jaminski, Madeline Lorine Jaminski, and Nathan James Jaminski, all of Mooresville, N.C.

Bob was a man of many accomplishments. After getting married and finishing school he joined the US Navy and served aboard the Battleship USS Missouri during the Korean War. After leaving the Navy he rejoined his wife, Sylvia.  After receiving his degree at NC State College, he obtained his master’s degree in social work from the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill. After a year as the Director for the Community Chest (United Way) in Anderson, S.C., he, Sylvia and their 3 boys, ages 5 yrs., 19 mos., and 9 mos., returned to Charlotte. He quickly became the Executive Director of the Episcopal Childcare Services of North Carolina. Under his leadership he brought Thompson Orphanage of Charlotte, NC, to the forefront of childcare under the name of Thompson Children’s Home and moved the campus from Downtown Charlotte to a newly built Facility on Margaret Wallace Road. After 18 years he retired from social work to pursue his passion of sailing and bought Baker Yachts, on Wilmington Island in Savannah, GA. He quickly re-named the marina Sail Harbor where he and his partner George Archer turned this endeavor into a great success. This eventually led them to build a restaurant, the “Lightship Tavern” designed as a replica of the Lightships used from past days. After 15 years, he sold the marina and went back into social work as an Interim Director for multiple children’s homes which included “Bethesda Home for Boys”, Savannah, Ga., “Nazareth Childrens Home” Rockwell, N.C., “York Place”, York, S.C. and “York County Boy’s Home”, Rock Hill, S.C. Bob Noble will be remembered for his dedication to social work, helping children and their families and his many contributions to the community. His commitment to church, faith and family, caring for his fellow man or woman, his love and concern for wildlife; and the environment. And lastly, his love for sailing. From the Sea Scouts to the USS Missouri to his many ventures sailing from Sail Harbor.

We wish Bob much Wind and Sunshine.

Services will be announced at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made Alzheimer’s Association, 4600 Park Rd. STE 250 Charlotte, NC 28209, World Wildlife Fund, 1250 24th St. NW, Washington, DC 20037, or Doctor’s without Borders, USA, 40 Rector St. 16th Floor, New York, NY 10006.

Online condolences may be made to the Noble family at www.brattonfuneralhome.com.

Bratton Funeral Home of York, SC is serving the Noble family.

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