Charles "Fran" Francis Noll Obituary (1916

Charles Francis "Fran" Noll, 98, a resident of the Forest Grove community passed away on Tuesday, March 17, 2015, at his home. Recitation of the Holy Rosary will be said at 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday, March 24, 2015 at The Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary Catholic Church; 4285 NW Visitation Rd in Verboort (Forest Grove). A funeral Mass will follow at 11:00 a.m. Family and friends are invited to attend a reception in the parish hall following the Mass. Rite of Christian Burial and entombment will take place later at the Mount Calvary Catholic Cemetery in Portland, Oregon. Francis was born on June 11, 1916 in Easton, Kansas. He was the second oldest of nine children born to Adolph F. and Anna D. (Sherman) Noll. He was raised outside of Easton on a family farm, attended the local schools, and graduated from Easton Union High School in 1934. Due to the hard times of the Great Depression Francis moved to Kelso, Washington, with an uncle to find a better life for himself. He later moved to Portland, Oregon. He enlisted into the US Army in 1942 and served his country as an Air Corps Mechanic in the South Pacific Theater of Operations of World War II. While enlisted, he received three Bronze Star Metals and was honorably discharged in 1946 as a 2nd Lieutenant. He then continued his service to his country in the US Air Force Reserve, amassing 34 years of dedicated, honorable service, retiring in 1974 in the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. Francis met his future wife, June Dolores Mosey, while attending church at St. Mary's by the Sea in Rockaway Beach, Oregon. They were introduced by the parish priest, soon began a courtship, and were married on 19 June 1956 at St. Andrew Catholic Church in Portland, Oregon, by her brother, Father Raymond Mosey. Following their marriage they made their home in Tillamook, Oregon. Upon their retirement, they moved to "the Valley" in Forest Grove. He was an owner/operator of Noll Appliances in Tillamook for over thirty years. Francis and his wife worked side by side and served the Tillamook County community with their honest dealing and exceptional service. Francis was a gifted mechanic, based on the thorough military technical training received during the war, able to repair or build just about anything. He was also a civic volunteer for the community and an active volunteer for the local Catholic parish. He is preceded in death by his parents and seven siblings: Violet L. Kimble, Margaret M. Berger, Clara I. Huber, Rita E. Schlecht, Bernard J. Noll, Lucille H. Ruscitti, and Thomas A. Noll. He is survived by his wife of nearly 59 years, June; two sons and a daughter-in-law, LTC Charles R. Noll, USA (Ret) of Forest Grove, Jerome J. and Elizabeth Noll of Burlingame, California; a brother and sister-in-law, William "Kermit" and Jill Noll of Hillsboro, Oregon; and two grandchildren, Christopher and Samantha Noll, of Burlingame, California. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations in Francis' name to the Visitation Catholic School; 4189 NW Visitation Road; Forest Grove, Oregon 97116.