ROBERT NOEL

LAMAR-A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. Wednesday at the Lamar United Methodist Church for Robert Earl Noel, 85, Lamar, who died Saturday, July 16, 2016, following a short illness. Visitation will be held prior to the service, beginning at 1 p.m. A graveside service will be held at 2 p.m. Thursday, at West Fork Cemetery near Fayetteville, Ark.

Arrangements are under the direction of Daniel Funeral Home.

Memorial contributions may be made in lieu of flowers to either About Our Kids Youth Development Services or the Lamar United Methodist Church, in care of the funeral home.

Condolences and memories may be shared at www.danielfuneralhome.net.

Survivors include his wife, Anita; two daughters, Allyson Noel, Rio Rancho, N.M. and Melissa Branson and husband Rick, Overland Park, Kan.; one son, Matt Noel and wife Joyce, Orange, Calif. and five grandchildren, Adam Noel, Phoenix, Ariz., Derek Noel, Orange, Calif., Rachel Branson, Eugene Ore., Faith Branson, Overland Park, Kan. and Bethanie Burandt, Raymore.

He was preceded in death by a brother, Benjamin Noel Jr. and a sister, Clara Jean Rosebeary.

Mr. Noel was born April 23, 1931, in Bryan, Texas, to Benjamin and Maude Noel. He spent his formative years in West Fork, Ark. He graduated from West Fork High School and shortly thereafter he took a number of jobs, including working the wheat harvest through the Plains states and a position with an electric power company.

In 1951, with the Korean War in progress, he joined the Army and served in the Army Security Agency in Hokkaido Japan. After the war he returned to Northwest Arkansas, where he earned an electrical engineering degree from the University of Arkansas. It was during this time that he met his future wife and their married in 1955.

He spent a large part of his professional career at Finley Engineering as the head of the power department. He returned from Finley in 1996 and opened his own practice, working on a variety of projects in Missouri, other adjoining states and as far away as the state of Nevada. He continued to take on engineering work up until months before he passed, because he loved his craft.

He joined Lamar United Methodist Church in 1969 and was active in church leadership, Sunday school and various other ministries.

His life was defined by his deep faith, his devotion to his family, a strong desire to help those less fortunate, his drive to stay fit and an intense interest in political and social issues that affect us all. He was also a devoted fan of Arkansas Razorback football, missing only three home games in the last 47 years.