John Noble

Attorney John Noble of Rockville, Maryland, passed away on July 11, 2025,  at Georgetown University Hospital while undergoing treatment for cancer.  He was 85.  Despite his difficult battle he remained stoic and continued to serve his clients at his law firm, Noble & Crow, and to pursue his passion for travel. John was born on September 1st, 1939 in Glen Ridge, New Jersey to renowned maritime artist John A. Noble and Susan Ames Noble. He grew up in Staten Island, New York, graduating from Curtis High School in 1956 and Staten Island Academy in 1957. Growing up in a struggling artist’s family, he always worked hard as a young man, holding such jobs as a farm hand on a diary farm, pushing a hand truck in New York’s famous garment district, working in a carnival in Florida, delivering baked goods for Dugan Brothers in the Catskills, and working as a golf caddy.

Following high school, with suitcase and typewriter in hand, John hitchhiked to Juniata College in Huntingdon, Pennsylvania where he earned a bachelors degree in 1961. He enjoyed playing basketball for Juniata and remained active in alumni affairs for Juniata until his death. Upon graduating from college John enlisted in the U.S. Army, where he was selected for the Intelligence Corp. He served 3 years, stationed primarily at Fort Bragg in North Carolina but did stints elsewhere, including Alaska. While he was in the Army training at Fort Holabird in Baltimore, he met Carol Souder, whom he married in 1963.

After he was honorably discharged from the Army, they moved to Chevy Chase, Maryland, and John worked as an insurance adjuster while he attended George Washington University law school at night. He earned his Juris Doctor degree in 1969 and joined the Maryland Bar in 1970 . 

John’s law career began at the law firm of Simpson and Simpson, in Rockville, Maryland. Eventually he formed a partnership with Alexander Crow, establishing the law firm of Noble and Crow. Although he had a general practice, John concentrated on trial work, Workers’ Compensation and Probate. He remained active in Montgomery County Bar affairs and served as its Treasurer in the 1980’s.  He was still practicing at the time of his death.

John was a passionate long distance runner, running more than 50 marathons and multiple 50 mile races. He ran his 50th marathon on his 50th birthday and continued to run marathons and races for years afterwards. He ran in the first New York City marathon in 1977 and the Boston and Marine Corps marathons multiple times. He was very active in the Montgomery County Roadrunners Club and DC Roadrunners Club, organizing and running many races and leading their First Time Marathoners programs.

His wife Carol died in January 2020 and his daughter Ann Noble Eiseman died in December 2019. He is survived by his son, John Timothy Noble, and daughter-in-law, Wendy Ouellette; his son-in-law, Eric Eiseman; his grandsons Calvin, Max, and James; and his brother, Allan, and sister-in-law, Kathy Noble.

John will be remembered for his kindness, civility and impeccable integrity.  A memorial service will be held at 11:30 AM Saturday, August 9, 2025 at St. John’s Evangelical Lutheran Church, 4629 Aspen Hill Road, Rockville, MD 20853. 

For those unable to attend in person, services will be livestreamed via this link: https://www.youtube.com/@st.johnsevangelicalluthera5755/streams