Roll Call Tribute

Providence Funeral Home obituary
807 Carlos Parker Blvd., NW
P.O. Box 1064
Taylor, Texas 76574
Phone: (512) 352-5909
Fax: (512) 365-8512
Toll Free: (866) 877-6929

J. Noble Atkins
February 25, 1928 - July 21, 2016

Dr. J. Noble Atkins, Pastor Atkins, was born Feb 25, 1928 in Midland TX. The Atkins family settled in Odessa where Noble graduated from Odessa High in 1944 at the age of 16. He headed to Texas A & M in the summer of ’44, arriving on the day after D-Day. He heard the radio reports of the invasion on Sunday then took the train to College Station to begin classes on Monday. After three semesters at A & M he felt the call to the ministry and transferred to Southwestern in Georgetown TX where he completed his degree in English. While at Southwestern he taught freshman English at the age of 19 (he apparently claimed to be 21 to get the job). He then moved to SMU’s Perkins School of Theology and became a minister in 1949. We suspect Noble inherited his pastoral speaking cadence from his mother Elizabeth Atkins who was a native of South Carolina. Noble was very deliberate in his delivery with tinges of southern pronunciation. In his 44 years of ministry Noble had churches in New Mexico, Oklahoma and Texas serving in three different conferences.

On September 23, 1954 Noble married his childhood sweetheart Dorothy Leonard with whom he had three children Jim (James), John and Martha. Noble and Dorothy teamed up to give their kids the best education possible with the children earning JD, MM and PhD degrees. These are added to Noble’s PhD. which he earned at about age 50. Noble was working on his Doctorate in Ministry while the boys were in college and yes, there was some comparison of grades at the ends of semesters. Noble’s grades were always the highest. He had a prodigious memory that served him well in his studies, as well as in the pulpit, in party games and in life. He could quote the Bible, Shakespeare, poems he had written in Jr. High, songs he had learned while studying voice in college, hymns, as well as all the presidents or states in order, with equal ease and relish. If you wanted to know some random fact about who was married to a king of England or a bible verse you could only remember the beginning of… just ask. He could probably tell you. His interests, as he described them, included opening the scriptures, church histories, brotherhood between Christians and others, English literature, music, poetry and Free Masonry. He was a more than 60 year member of the Masonic Lodge and a 32nd degree Scottish Rite Mason and remained active in both until the end. He was also a voracious reader of mysteries. He enjoyed learning and trying new things. He continued studying Spanish and practiced with whomever he could. He, in his last month or so, wanted to try Indian Food for the first time, just because. So we did.

Noble is survived by two of his children, John and Martha, by his grandson John, and by his sisters Elizabeth and Lydia, Daughters-in-law, Nicolette and Kelly and ‘adopted’ daughter Suzette. He was proceeded in death by his wife of 51 years, Dorothy, son Jim, brother Hardin and best friend Jimmy. We will remember his dry wit, his stentorian preacher voice, his birthday prayer, his connection to his boxer dogs and his generosity of spirit to those around him especially, in his final years, at SPJST where he found a second home. Rest in Peace Papa.

Visitation: Sunday July 24, 3pm-5pm.
Providence Funeral Home.
807 Carlos Parker Blvd. NW, Taylor TX, 76574

Masonic Service: Monday July 25, 10am
Providence Funeral Home
807 Carlos Parker Blvd. NW, Taylor TX, 76574

Celebration of Life: Monday July 25, 2pm
First United Methodist Church,
907 W Lake Drive, Taylor TX, 76574


In lieu of flowers donations may be made to:
Abode Home
P.O. Box 4764
San Antonio, TX 78265
http://abodehome.org/


Austin Boxer Rescue
P.O. Box 14421
Austin, Texas 78761
http://austinboxerrescue.com/ways-to-help/donate/