Duane Loyd Nobles
Duane Loyd Nobles
Dec. 18, 1933~Jan. 8, 2016
On Friday, Jan. 8, 2016, Duane Loyd Nobles of Tow, Texas, went home to be with his Lord Jesus Christ at the age of 82 years.
Duane was born on Dec. 18, 1933, in Wink, Texas, the son of L. Z. “Dick” and Octavia Nobles. He was the sixth in a line of 12 siblings.
Duane graduated from Wink High School and received a full four-year scholarship to Texas A&M University playing football. However, prior to completing his degree, he left A&M to join the U.S Army.
After basic training, he was shipped to Germany where he continued his passion by playing football for the Army throughout Europe.
While in the Army, he married Glenda Nell Stephens.
After military service, the couple resided in Andrews, Texas, and had their son, Stacey.
They lived there until 1961 when they moved to Odessa, Texas, where he was employed by Rexene Chemical Plant south of town.
While in Odessa he spent numerous years as a member of the Southwest Football Officials Association and was a reserve deputy for the Ector County Sheriff’s Department.
He found his second passion – welding – while working at Rexene. Duane then returned to college, got his degree in welding technology and became the welding and machine shop instructor for Odessa College.
As he continued his career with Odessa College, becoming the department head, he also continued his formal education graduating with a master’s degree from Wayland Baptist College.
After retiring from Odessa College, he and his second wife, Mary Sue Rand, moved to Tow, Texas, on Lake Buchanan. Duane went to work with the Llano County Sheriff’s Office as a deputy for several years and then was elected as the Justice of the Peace for Precinct 2 in Llano County for two terms before retiring.
Duane was a member of the Llano Masonic Lodge #242, the Scottish Rite and the Granite Hills Baptist Church.
He loved living in the Texas Hill County, fishing and working on projects including restoring old vehicles and welding.
Duane is survived by: his son and daughter-in-law, Stacey D. and Roycee Nobles of Marble Falls; grandson, Jacob D. Nobles also in Marble Falls; siblings and their spouses, Chris Brumlow, Dorothy and Dick York in Alaska, Francis Brumlow, Bobby and Linda Nobles in Utah and Vickie and Rich Sparks in Louisiana, plus numerous nieces, nephews and friends.
He was preceded in death by: wife Sue, his parents, two brothers and four sisters.
A memorial service will be held on Thursday, Jan. 21, 2016, at the Llano Cowboy Church, 7535 Hwy 29 West (6.5 miles west of Llano on Hwy 29 West) at 2 p.m. with Pastor Stacey D. Nobles officiating.
