G. Ralph Noble

G. Ralph Noble, 100, of Lewisburg died Sunday, February 23, 2025 at Oak Glen Healthcare and Rehabilitation Center, Lewisburg. 

Ralph was born to Fred Norman Noble and his wife, Grace Katherine (Renno), on November 14th, 1924, in Mifflintown, Pennsylvania. 

During the Great Depression, everyone in the family worked. Ralph’s first jobs, while a schoolboy, were: newsboy, plumber’s helper, meat cutter, store clerk, service station attendant, milk delivery man and waiter. Ralph was a 1943 graduate of Juniata High School. He left during his Senior year, a couple of months early, to enlist in the service during WWII. He served three years in the United States Army Air Corps, during which time he met his future wife, Jean Helen Wentling of Merchantville, NJ, while home on leave. Jean was attending Susquehanna University at the time they met. They married on September 8, 1945. After his honorable discharge, Ralph continued to serve while on reserve duty and furthered his education. He earned a Bachelor’s degree from Bucknell University in Lewisburg, Pennsylvania, in Economics and Psychology in 1949. He then attended Temple University in Philadelphia, West Chester State Teachers College in West Chester, Pennsylvania, and earned a Master’s in Education at Bucknell University in 1953. Ralph started his career teaching in a one room school in Juniata County; taught history and English at Juniata High School; was an assistant administrative Head of the Hazleton Campus of Pennsylvania State University; and administrative Head of the Scranton Campus of Penn State. 

 Ralph and Jean had two children, Stephen Ralph, born in 1950 and Nancy Ann, born 1952. In 1957, he decided it was time for a new adventure and the family moved to the Upper Peninsula of Michigan where Ralph was employed at Michigan Technological University, serving as an Administrator and Professor. He was instrumental in instituting numerous new programs at Michigan Tech including Continuing Education, Public Service, a School of Education, and a School of Applied Technology. He also took a sabbatical Year to attend the University of Chicago where he earned a Certificate of Advanced Studies. 

During his years in Michigan, Ralph was active in his church, the Chamber of Commerce, Boy Scouts, his fraternity Lambda Chi Alpha, the United Way and Rotary. Ralph served as District Governor R.I. 622 as well as numerous other offices. He was designated as a Paul Harris Fellow of Rotary International.

In 1980, Ralph took early retirement so that Jean could accept a promotion to the National Headquarters of the USDA Forest Service, in Washington, DC. While in Washington, Ralph managed a high-rise residential apartment building. While in The DC area, Ralph and Jean took a weekend trip up to Lewisburg, PA, and decided to buy a house that they would both retire to. Ralph moved up before Jean’s retirement and kept busy by serving as Coordinator of Economic Development for Union and Snyder Counties of Pennsylvania, Industry-Education Coordinator for SUN Area VO-Tech and Executive Director of the Lewisburg Area Chamber of Commerce. 

In 1987, Jean had retired and the move to Lewisburg was complete and retirement could really begin. 

Ralph was active in several professional and fraternal organizations and societies, especially his Masonic affiliations, which he was introduced to by his father. He also was a member of the Sons of the American Revolution and the Bucknell Bison Club. Ralph and Jean enjoyed traveling extensively, both internationally ad domestically. In addition, they enjoyed escaping winter to spend time in Gulf Shores, Alabama.

Ralph was preceded in death by his wife of 78 years. He is survived by son, Stephen Ralph Noble (Susan); daughter, Nancy Noble DeGuire (Marcel); grandchildren: Jeanette DeGuire, Elizabeth Mance, Claire Folk and William Noble plus six great grandchildren. 

A memorial service will be held at 10:00 a.m. Thursday, March 27 in the Creative Arts Room of Ridgecrest, 270 Ridgecrest Circle Lewisburg with the Rev. Dr. John Colatch, officiating.

The family is being assisted by Cronrath-Grenoble Funeral Home, South Second and St. Louis streets, Lewisburg.