Noland Eugene James left us July 18, 2020. Though we are loath to see him go, we know he is safe in the arms of our loving Lord. We who are his friends and family enjoyed the pleasure of his company for 89 years. He was born Monday, March 3, 1931, to Frank E. James and Susie (Wilson) James at the Chickasha General Hospital.
He began his career at the age of nine shining shoes in Alex, OK. From there, he set bowling pins in Cushing, OK and Wichita Falls, TX and washed dishes in Rush Springs, OK. His last after-school job was at the Medford, OK cinema setting up the signs and installing the marquees. He left school at fifteen to work in the oil fields with his father.
At eighteen, Noland enlisted in the Air Force. The officers who commanded his squadron was a lithe, handsome young man with much innate ability. They forbade him to continue bull riding, encouraged and helped him finish high school, sent him to radar repair school, and assigned him to a radar repair unit that traveled the globe repairing radar equipment. As the Korean War ended, he was invited to enroll as an Air Cadet. Noland graduated from pilot training, but left the Air Force without accepting his commission. His cousin, Wilson Smithen persuaded him to resign before he could receive his pilot's wings.
After the military, Noland settled in Texas near his older brother, Chick (F.E.) James. While he worked toward his first degree in engineering, he made a living as an auto mechanic. Eventually, he returned to Oklahoma and married Margaret Ann Gibbons – a long and happy marriage. They had one son, David.
Noland developed a subdivision and built homes, however, the construction business did not appeal to him and he decided to return to college. He attended the University of Oklahoma and earned a BS in Mechanical Engineering, a BFA in Design, a BFA in Painting and an MFA in Design.
While working on his degrees, he ran the foundry at OU. He then began his thirty-year teaching career in the OU School of Visual Arts. At one time or another, Noland taught every studio class in the art school, both undergraduate and graduate levels.
Noland was voted Teacher of the Year by the faculty and the student body in 2001, the year he retired to care for Margaret, who died that same year. This was only the second time these honors had been given.
Noland's oeuvre includes painting, pottery, wood carving, and silversmithing. He was a creative soul, driven by the joy of making beauty where engineering meets esthetics. Among his Chickasha projects, he created the Cross and the Baptistry at the First Baptist Church and the large, major elements for the Festival of Lights at its inception.
Noland married his second wife, Elizabeth Stockton, in 2010. It was the grace note of his mature life to have another chance at happiness. They have shared ten peaceful, happy years together.
Noland is preceded in death by his parents; his beloved first wife Margaret; his dearly loved older brother F.E. (Chick) James; his sister, Mary Smith and husband, Curtis Smith; his life-long friend and older sister Hyahwanah Cecil and husband, Jack Cecil; and his brother-in-law Dick Bennett.
He is survived by his second wife, Elizabeth; his son David James and wife Carolyn; his sister Dolly Bennett; his nieces: Susie Deason and husband Jim; Paula Hartsfield; Kathy Bishop and husband Homer; Linda Wright; Leah Carrell and husband Wally; Cynthia Siebert; and Lydia Ford – and his nephews: Charles Bennett; and Randy Cecil and wife Neva. He is blessed with seven grandchildren: Natalie Timmons and husband Dustin; John and wife Soraya; Audrey Davidson and husband Caleb; Roman; Christian; Margaret; and Paul; five great-grandchildren; and many great-nieces and great-nephews.
Memorial service will be 1:00 p.m., Wednesday, July 22, 2020 at the First Christian Church, Chickasha, OK. A private family graveside service will be held before at the Rose Hill Cemetery, Chickasha, OK under the direction of Sevier Funeral Home, Chickasha, OK.
He began his career at the age of nine shining shoes in Alex, OK. From there, he set bowling pins in Cushing, OK and Wichita Falls, TX and washed dishes in Rush Springs, OK. His last after-school job was at the Medford, OK cinema setting up the signs and installing the marquees. He left school at fifteen to work in the oil fields with his father.
At eighteen, Noland enlisted in the Air Force. The officers who commanded his squadron was a lithe, handsome young man with much innate ability. They forbade him to continue bull riding, encouraged and helped him finish high school, sent him to radar repair school, and assigned him to a radar repair unit that traveled the globe repairing radar equipment. As the Korean War ended, he was invited to enroll as an Air Cadet. Noland graduated from pilot training, but left the Air Force without accepting his commission. His cousin, Wilson Smithen persuaded him to resign before he could receive his pilot's wings.
After the military, Noland settled in Texas near his older brother, Chick (F.E.) James. While he worked toward his first degree in engineering, he made a living as an auto mechanic. Eventually, he returned to Oklahoma and married Margaret Ann Gibbons – a long and happy marriage. They had one son, David.
Noland developed a subdivision and built homes, however, the construction business did not appeal to him and he decided to return to college. He attended the University of Oklahoma and earned a BS in Mechanical Engineering, a BFA in Design, a BFA in Painting and an MFA in Design.
While working on his degrees, he ran the foundry at OU. He then began his thirty-year teaching career in the OU School of Visual Arts. At one time or another, Noland taught every studio class in the art school, both undergraduate and graduate levels.
Noland was voted Teacher of the Year by the faculty and the student body in 2001, the year he retired to care for Margaret, who died that same year. This was only the second time these honors had been given.
Noland's oeuvre includes painting, pottery, wood carving, and silversmithing. He was a creative soul, driven by the joy of making beauty where engineering meets esthetics. Among his Chickasha projects, he created the Cross and the Baptistry at the First Baptist Church and the large, major elements for the Festival of Lights at its inception.
Noland married his second wife, Elizabeth Stockton, in 2010. It was the grace note of his mature life to have another chance at happiness. They have shared ten peaceful, happy years together.
Noland is preceded in death by his parents; his beloved first wife Margaret; his dearly loved older brother F.E. (Chick) James; his sister, Mary Smith and husband, Curtis Smith; his life-long friend and older sister Hyahwanah Cecil and husband, Jack Cecil; and his brother-in-law Dick Bennett.
He is survived by his second wife, Elizabeth; his son David James and wife Carolyn; his sister Dolly Bennett; his nieces: Susie Deason and husband Jim; Paula Hartsfield; Kathy Bishop and husband Homer; Linda Wright; Leah Carrell and husband Wally; Cynthia Siebert; and Lydia Ford – and his nephews: Charles Bennett; and Randy Cecil and wife Neva. He is blessed with seven grandchildren: Natalie Timmons and husband Dustin; John and wife Soraya; Audrey Davidson and husband Caleb; Roman; Christian; Margaret; and Paul; five great-grandchildren; and many great-nieces and great-nephews.
Memorial service will be 1:00 p.m., Wednesday, July 22, 2020 at the First Christian Church, Chickasha, OK. A private family graveside service will be held before at the Rose Hill Cemetery, Chickasha, OK under the direction of Sevier Funeral Home, Chickasha, OK.
Noland Eugene James left us July 18, 2020. Though we are loath to see him go, we know he is safe in the arms of our loving Lord. We who are his friends and family enjoyed the pleasure of his company for 89 years. He was born Monday, March 3, 1931, to Frank E. James and Susie (Wilson) James at the Chickasha General Hospital.
He began his career at the age of nine shining shoes in Alex, OK. From there, he set bowling pins in Cushing, OK and Wichita Falls, TX and washed dishes in Rush Springs, OK. His last after-school job was at the Medford, OK cinema setting up the signs and installing the marquees. He left school at fifteen to work in the oil fields with his father.
At eighteen, Noland enlisted in the Air Force. The officers who commanded his squadron was a lithe, handsome young man with much innate ability. They forbade him to continue bull riding, encouraged and helped him finish high school, sent him to radar repair school, and assigned him to a radar repair unit that traveled the globe repairing radar equipment. As the Korean War ended, he was invited to enroll as an Air Cadet. Noland graduated from pilot training, but left the Air Force without accepting his commission. His cousin, Wilson Smithen persuaded him to resign before he could receive his pilot's wings.
After the military, Noland settled in Texas near his older brother, Chick (F.E.) James. While he worked toward his first degree in engineering, he made a living as an auto mechanic. Eventually, he returned to Oklahoma and married Margaret Ann Gibbons – a long and happy marriage. They had one son, David.
Noland developed a subdivision and built homes, however, the construction business did not appeal to him and he decided to return to college. He attended the University of Oklahoma and earned a BS in Mechanical Engineering, a BFA in Design, a BFA in Painting and an MFA in Design.
While working on his degrees, he ran the foundry at OU. He then began his thirty-year teaching career in the OU School of Visual Arts. At one time or another, Noland taught every studio class in the art school, both undergraduate and graduate levels.
Noland was voted Teacher of the Year by the faculty and the student body in 2001, the year he retired to care for Margaret, who died that same year. This was only the second time these honors had been given.
Noland's oeuvre includes painting, pottery, wood carving, and silversmithing. He was a creative soul, driven by the joy of making beauty where engineering meets esthetics. Among his Chickasha projects, he created the Cross and the Baptistry at the First Baptist Church and the large, major elements for the Festival of Lights at its inception.
Noland married his second wife, Elizabeth Stockton, in 2010. It was the grace note of his mature life to have another chance at happiness. They have shared ten peaceful, happy years together.
Noland is preceded in death by his parents; his beloved first wife Margaret; his dearly loved older brother F.E. (Chick) James; his sister, Mary Smith and husband, Curtis Smith; his life-long friend and older sister Hyahwanah Cecil and husband, Jack Cecil; and his brother-in-law Dick Bennett.
He is survived by his second wife, Elizabeth; his son David James and wife Carolyn; his sister Dolly Bennett; his nieces: Susie Deason and husband Jim; Paula Hartsfield; Kathy Bishop and husband Homer; Linda Wright; Leah Carrell and husband Wally; Cynthia Siebert; and Lydia Ford – and his nephews: Charles Bennett; and Randy Cecil and wife Neva. He is blessed with seven grandchildren: Natalie Timmons and husband Dustin; John and wife Soraya; Audrey Davidson and husband Caleb; Roman; Christian; Margaret; and Paul; five great-grandchildren; and many great-nieces and great-nephews.
Memorial service will be 1:00 p.m., Wednesday, July 22, 2020 at the First Christian Church, Chickasha, OK. A private family graveside service will be held before at the Rose Hill Cemetery, Chickasha, OK under the direction of Sevier Funeral Home, Chickasha, OK.
He began his career at the age of nine shining shoes in Alex, OK. From there, he set bowling pins in Cushing, OK and Wichita Falls, TX and washed dishes in Rush Springs, OK. His last after-school job was at the Medford, OK cinema setting up the signs and installing the marquees. He left school at fifteen to work in the oil fields with his father.
At eighteen, Noland enlisted in the Air Force. The officers who commanded his squadron was a lithe, handsome young man with much innate ability. They forbade him to continue bull riding, encouraged and helped him finish high school, sent him to radar repair school, and assigned him to a radar repair unit that traveled the globe repairing radar equipment. As the Korean War ended, he was invited to enroll as an Air Cadet. Noland graduated from pilot training, but left the Air Force without accepting his commission. His cousin, Wilson Smithen persuaded him to resign before he could receive his pilot's wings.
After the military, Noland settled in Texas near his older brother, Chick (F.E.) James. While he worked toward his first degree in engineering, he made a living as an auto mechanic. Eventually, he returned to Oklahoma and married Margaret Ann Gibbons – a long and happy marriage. They had one son, David.
Noland developed a subdivision and built homes, however, the construction business did not appeal to him and he decided to return to college. He attended the University of Oklahoma and earned a BS in Mechanical Engineering, a BFA in Design, a BFA in Painting and an MFA in Design.
While working on his degrees, he ran the foundry at OU. He then began his thirty-year teaching career in the OU School of Visual Arts. At one time or another, Noland taught every studio class in the art school, both undergraduate and graduate levels.
Noland was voted Teacher of the Year by the faculty and the student body in 2001, the year he retired to care for Margaret, who died that same year. This was only the second time these honors had been given.
Noland's oeuvre includes painting, pottery, wood carving, and silversmithing. He was a creative soul, driven by the joy of making beauty where engineering meets esthetics. Among his Chickasha projects, he created the Cross and the Baptistry at the First Baptist Church and the large, major elements for the Festival of Lights at its inception.
Noland married his second wife, Elizabeth Stockton, in 2010. It was the grace note of his mature life to have another chance at happiness. They have shared ten peaceful, happy years together.
Noland is preceded in death by his parents; his beloved first wife Margaret; his dearly loved older brother F.E. (Chick) James; his sister, Mary Smith and husband, Curtis Smith; his life-long friend and older sister Hyahwanah Cecil and husband, Jack Cecil; and his brother-in-law Dick Bennett.
He is survived by his second wife, Elizabeth; his son David James and wife Carolyn; his sister Dolly Bennett; his nieces: Susie Deason and husband Jim; Paula Hartsfield; Kathy Bishop and husband Homer; Linda Wright; Leah Carrell and husband Wally; Cynthia Siebert; and Lydia Ford – and his nephews: Charles Bennett; and Randy Cecil and wife Neva. He is blessed with seven grandchildren: Natalie Timmons and husband Dustin; John and wife Soraya; Audrey Davidson and husband Caleb; Roman; Christian; Margaret; and Paul; five great-grandchildren; and many great-nieces and great-nephews.
Memorial service will be 1:00 p.m., Wednesday, July 22, 2020 at the First Christian Church, Chickasha, OK. A private family graveside service will be held before at the Rose Hill Cemetery, Chickasha, OK under the direction of Sevier Funeral Home, Chickasha, OK.
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