Dr. Warren Valentine Noble, 94, of Buies Creek, died of natural causes on Saturday, December 6, 2014, at Cape Fear Valley Medical Center in Fayetteville.

Dr. Noble was a retired educator at both the public school and university levels. He was born in 1920 on Long Island in Mineola, New York, and graduated from Roslyn High School, Roslyn Heights, New York in 1939. Following high school, he worked in retail sales for Montgomery Ward Department Stores, in Albany, New York until World War II.

Dr. Noble was a World War II veteran and served as a Staff Sergeant in the U.S. Army Medical Corps in India, Burma, and China from 1942-1946. Dr. Noble became a prolific letter writer during the War. Some 55 years later he compiled an 893 page, three-volume personal military profile taken from official records, news releases, pictures, and his 246 personal letters and cards dating from October, 1942 through January, 1946. Additional post-war communications dating from February, 1946 through September, 1950 were also included in Volume 3. These letters detail this war from one combat soldier's perspective.
Following World War II, Dr. Noble received his Bachelor of Arts and Master of Arts degrees at the New York State College for Teachers in Albany. In 1959 he received his Doctorate in Student Personnel Administration and School Counseling from Teachers College, Columbia University in New York City. He undertook additional graduate and post-graduate doctoral study at Syracuse University, New York University, and Hofstra University for certification purposes. His doctoral dissertation was one of the very first studies ever undertaken on the subject of teacher morale and its effects on teaching and learning.
During a forty-year educational career, Dr. Noble served in many educational positions including Teacher of English and French, Director of Guidance, Junior High School Principal, Senior High School Principal, Director of Pupil Personnel Services, Assistant Superintendent, and Superintendent of Schools. On the university level, Dr. Noble also served as Adjunct Assistant Professor of Education at State University of New York in Plattsburgh. He was Adjunct Associate Professor of Education at C. W. Post College of Long Island University for 11 years prior to his coming to Campbell University in 1976. At Campbell, Dr. Noble was an Assistant Professor of Education, instrumental in the development of the new graduate program in Counselor Education and School Administration. He retired in 1986.

Dr. Noble was a lifelong member of the United Methodist Church while living in New York State and in Lillington, North Carolina. He served in several leadership capacities over the years.
Dr. Noble made it his personal mission each day to make any person he encountered feel better about himself for having spoken with him. He was not merely an accomplished professional...he was a good Christian man.

Dr. Noble is survived by his wife of 66 years, Geraldine Van Allen Noble in Fayetteville; by his son, Reed N. Noble, Attorney, in Fayetteville; by his daughter, Candis Noble, Designer and Interior Designer, in Hudson, Quebec, Canada; by his daughter-in-law, Tanuel H. Noble, and his grandsons Eric R. Noble, in Charlotte and Ryan H. Noble, in Fayetteville; by his grandson, Grant Harris, in Montreal, Quebec, Canada; by his sister, Mary Noble Starr in South Bethlehem, New York; and his sister-in-law, Irene S. Noble in Valley Falls, New York.

The family will receive friends at 10:00 a.m., on December 13, 2014 at the Lillington United Methodist Church. The funeral service will commence at 11:00 a.m., with the burial service immediately following it at Harnett Memorial Park, Lillington. It is suggested that in lieu of flowers, memorial contributions be made to the Lillington United Methodist Church.
Funeral service will be 11:00 AM Saturday, December 13, 2014 at Lillington United Methodist Church. Burial will follow in Harnett Memorial Park. The family will receive friends in the church parlor from 10:00-11:00 AM.