William F. Noel

ORANGE- William F. Noel, 90, of East River Street, died peacefully at Athol Hospital on Wednesday, June 1, 2022.

Born in Athol on December 16, 1931, he was the son of William and Elizabeth (Gravelin) Noel and grew up in Athol, graduating from Athol High School in 1950.

At age 17, William earned his pilot’s license and had a lifelong passion of flying. He received the Wright Brothers Master Pilot Award. This award recognizes pilots who have practiced safe flight operations continuously for over 50 years during the course of their aviation career.

He joined the United States Air Force on March 18, 1952 and served as a mechanic for four years before his honorable discharge on March 17, 1956 during the Korean Conflict.

On April 11, 1959, William married Helen (Johnson) and they enjoyed just over 63 years of marriage.

William was employed by the L. S. Starrett Company for 40 years before retiring. He had been a member of the Starrett 25 Year Club.

William was the oldest member of the Athol- Orange Aero Club. He also was a member of Saint Mary’s Parish in Orange.

While flying was William’s passion, he also enjoyed building model planes, flying kites, fishing and puttering in his workshop.

He was known as Pepe to the grandchildren and Pop to members of the Aero Club.

William is survived by his wife, Helen Noel, of Orange; his children, Nancy Pomp and her husband, Edward, of Ballston Spa, NY, Mark Noel and his wife, Tanya, of Concord, NC, Timothy Noel of Orange, and April Kelly and her husband, Patrick, of High Springs, FL; grandchildren, Jeffrey Pompa and his wife Elizabeth, Timothy Pompa, Elizabeth Pompa, Nathan Noel, Sean Kelly and his wife, Cheree’, and Scott Kelly and his girlfriend Mackenzie Hallman; a great granddaughter, Eleanor Pompa; a sister, Betty Labrie of Athol; and several nephews and nieces.

Besides his parents, William was predeceased by a sister, Sheila Noel, and by a brother, Paul Noel.

There are no calling hours.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Thursday, June 9, 2022 at 10 a.m. at Saint Mary’s Church, 19 Congress Street, Orange, with Fr. Shaun O’Connor officiating.

Interment will follow in South Cemetery, Orange.

In lieu of flowers, donations are suggested to Maryknoll Missionaries, https://mklm.org/support-us/donation-page

Witty’s Funeral Home, 158 South Main Street, Orange, is assisting the family.

Guest book and directions online at WWW.WITTYFUNERALHOME.COM

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