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This 1969 photo shows Bill Noble at his dealership. |
William K. "Bill" Noble, whose Noble Cars dealership was a Falmouth landmark for nearly 40 years, died Sunday at his Spotsylvania County home after a brief illness.
"He was a very intelligent, well-liked businessman, and a wonderful contributor to the community," said Burt Shand, former vice president of Noble Auto Group. "A little guy with a big heart, which not many people realized. His death is a great loss."
Noble, 72, not only inspired loyalty in his staff, many of whom worked for him for years, said Shand, but was a regular contributor to the University of Mary Washington, the UMW-Community Symphony Orchestra and the Fredericksburg Area Museum and Cultural Center.
He also donated to Calvary Christian Church in Fredericksburg and the Crystal Cathedral in Garden Grove, Calif.; and gave jobs at his home to people who were down on their luck, said Ben Whitaker, his caretaker for the last 10 years.
"He was always happy and joking and laughing and outdoorsy," Whitaker said. "Until he reached 70, everybody had to race to keep up with him."
Noble also enjoyed history and traveled the world with Charles H. Carter, a longtime friend who died last year.
The son of John W. and Verta K. Noble, Noble attended the Choate School in Wallingford, Conn., and Washington College in Chestertown, Md.
He began his career as a sales agent for American Airlines in 1958, then became the used-car manager for his father's Noble Ford in Easton, Md., three years later.
He went to work for Massey Ford Inc. of Fredericksburg as sales manager in 1965, then bought a vacant gas station at U.S. 1 and Butler Road for $28,000 as the site of his own dealership two years later.
Noble initially sold Saabs with the help of a lot boy, and offered customers a trip to Europe if they bought one of the Swedish cars. He soon became a Mercedes-Benz service dealer as well, and business had picked up so much by 1969 that he employed a sales staff of five plus the lot boy and two mechanics, according to an article in The Free Lance-Star.
Noble moved his business from Falmouth to roomier quarters at Noble Auto Park on Fall Hill Avenue in 2006, then sold the Mercedes-Benz and Volvo dealerships as well as the Falmouth site to Central Virginia Eurocars LLC in December.
Noble is survived by a brother and two sisters.
Arrangements for a memorial service will be announced at a later date. There is an online guest book at covenantfuneralservice .com.
Cathy Jett: 540/374-5407
Email: cjett@freelancestar.com
