Christopher Noble

After days of joking with every visiting family member and surprising many of his nurses with obscure references to inside-family humor, Christopher John Noble, age 73, died on March 16, 2023, in Tulsa, OK at Porta Caeli House. He was born on January 31, 1950 in New Brunswick, NJ, to parents Paul Robert and Nancy Faye Noble. He credited the love of his life, Jane Ann Shea, with helping him to convert to Catholicism after they met one another at a prayer meeting in Saginaw, MI. On April 11, 1980, Jane and Chris married and they made their home in Ohio. Chris graduated with a degree in Education from Mercy College. He later obtained a Master's degree in Theology from the Franciscan University of Steubenville and earned a PhD in Systematic Theology from Duquesne University. His dissertation was on the topic of justification and sanctification in the thought of John Henry Newman. As Director of Evangelization at Franciscan University of Steubenville, he developed a Catholic Evangelization Program that was implemented all over the world. He was a popular conference speaker on Catholic apologetics and hosted several 13-week series on EWTN television and radio. In 1992, Chris and Jane moved with their five children to Tulsa, OK where he worked at the Diocese of Tulsa as the Director of Religious Education. He later taught Scripture, Philosophy, and Humanities at Tulsa Community College. One would be hard pressed to find a man who loved reading (or the Pittsburgh Pirates) more than Chris Noble. Much to Jane's chagrin, he brought several books and a yellow highlighter with him on their first date and insisted on packing stacks of books for even short family vacations. Chris enjoyed reading dense theology books but he also loved reading and writing poetry. His favorite poet was Saginaw native Theodore Roethke. Scraps of poems can still be found scattered in every corner of his home office. The two most important things to Chris were his faith and his family. He regaled his children, grandchildren, and their friends with stories about a gorilla who moved from the jungle to the suburbs, and led "picture prayers" that involved intricate descriptions of heaven with golden brick roads and flower-filled meadows. He participated on several ACTS Retreat leadership teams at his parish, the Church of Saint Mary, where he would take the opportunity to share how Jesus changed his life. Although he was never much of an early riser, in his later years he would wake at 4:30 a.m. to pray the Rosary and intercede for his family and friends. Chris had a deep and expansive love for people. He strongly believed everyone deserves love, dignity, and redemption. He didn't just carry Christ in his heart, he tried to see Christ in those he encountered. Chris is survived by his wife Jane Ann Noble and his children Theresa Noble, David (Jacinta) Noble, Elizabeth (Joseph) Klein, Sarah (Paul) Noble Hogan, Mary Noble and her fiance Adam Peters, as well as by his sisters Anne Noble and Sara (Hedley) Marks and their three sons, Michael, Jamie, and Andrew. Chris is the proud "Poppie" of Eleanor, Margot, Simon, Sylvie, Thea, Armen, Phoebe, Everett, and Mara. The viewing and wake for Christopher Noble is scheduled for Tuesday March 21, 2023 at 6 p.m. at the Church of St. Mary, with a Rosary and sharing of memories at 7 p.m. His funeral Mass is scheduled for Wednesday, March 22 at 10:30 a.m. at the Church of Saint Mary with a reception following. The burial will take place at Calvary Cemetery. Flowers in his memory can be sent to Fitzgerald Southwood Colonial Chapel. Donations in his honor can be made to Tulsa Catholic Charities or to the GoFundMe of a Tulsa mother in great need .

Christopher Noble

January 31, 1950 - March 16, 2023