Noel Marchant, age 96, died at his home at the Woodmark Assisted Living Community in Albuquerque, New Mexico on September 14, 2019.
Noel was born on November 16, 1922, in Dodd City, Texas to William Lester Marchant and Virgie Lee (Rencher) Marchant. He grew up in and around Bonham, Texas, and graduated from Bonham High School where he played basketball for the Bonham Purple Warriors.
During World War II, Noel enlisted in the Army Air Corps in 1942 and was assigned stateside, mostly in Texas and California. It was during that time, that he was introduced to his wife-to-be, Allagene (Jean) Carter. They married in 1945 in Fresno, California. A year after the end of WWII, Noel was honorably discharged from the military and returned to Bonham, taking a job with the contractor who was building the Veterans Administration Hospital. After the Hospital was completed, he began his career with the VA. As he advanced to Supply Chief, there were many assignments along the way: Oklahoma, Colorado, Virginia and finally Albuquerque, New Mexico in 1971. Noel retired from the Virginia in 1977, and he and Jean spent the remainder of their days in Albuquerque. Noel and Jean attended Hoffmantown Church in Albuquerque where Noel later sang with the "Young at Heart" choir.
Noel was preceded in death by his wife Jean. He is survived by his two daughters, Judy Simpson and husband, Woody of Albuquerque and Patti Carlson and husband, Mike of Lago Vista, Texas; grandson, Sean Simpson and wife, Heather of Ruidoso, New Mexico; granddaughter, Krista Simpson of Albuquerque, New Mexico; grandson, Charles Berard and wife, Kamryn of Flower Mound, Texas; and two great-grandchildren, Mia Simpson and Lucas Berard.
A memorial service will be held at 10:00 a.m., Friday, September 27, 2019 at Turrentine-Jackson-Morrow Funeral Home Chapel, 2525 Central Expressway North, Allen, Texas 75013. A graveside inurnment with military honors will follow at Ridgeview Memorial Park, 2525 Central Expressway North, Allen, Texas 75013. The family will receive friends during a remembrance gathering on Thursday evening from 6:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. at the funeral home.
The family suggests donations be made in Noel’s memory to a food bank of your choice, as he frequently contributed to food banks.