Thomas Edwin Noll

Dr. Thomas Edwin Noll, 69, of Williamsburg died on Thursday, January 9, 2014, following a two-year battle with leukemia. He is survived by his loving wife of 46 years, Marianne Glaug Noll and two sons; Dr. Christopher T. Noll of Cincinnati, OH and Jeffrey A. Noll of Poquoson, VA. He will be dearly missed by his brother, James J. Noll of Batavia, OH and sisters; Donna Noll Cox of Alexandria, KY and Carla Noll Miles of Batavia, OH. He was preceded in death by his father Edwin J. Noll and mother Dorothy Medosch Noll.

Tom was born on August 31, 1944. He was raised in the Cincinnati area and attended McNicholas High School. He earned a BS in Mechanical Engineering from the U. of Cincinnati and worked at the Flight Dynamics Lab at Wright-Patterson AFB in Dayton, OH, for the next twenty years, where he helped established joint aerospace programs with allied countries. He went on to earn an MS from Ohio State and PhD from the U. of Dayton in Aerospace Engineering. During his time at Wright-Patterson he also taught graduate engineering classes at the U. of Dayton.

Tom had always dreamed of working for NASA and in 1987 began working at NASA Langley Research Center in VA where he continued working on international programs including contributions to the NATO Research and Technology Organisation and The Technical Cooperation Program. He was instrumental in reestablishing the NASA Engineering Technician Co-op/Apprentice Program and ultimately achieved the level of Senior Executive Service, retiring as the Deputy Director of the Systems Engineering Directorate.

After retirement he joined Analytical Services and Materials, Inc. of Hampton as Vice President working as a liaison to NASA.

Tom was an avid outdoorsman, especially enjoying many family camping trips across the US and Canada. He loved fishing, birding and hiking. He also had a fondness for athletics which began with high school football and continued with his participation in basketball, softball and volleyball leagues throughout his life. He especially enjoyed coaching youth soccer and baseball and was active in the Boy Scouts of America. He also had a keen interest in history and enjoyed woodworking.

The family will receive visitors at Nelsen Funeral Home, 3785 Strawberry Plains Rd., Williamsburg from 6-8 pm on Monday, January 13. Funeral Mass will be held at St. Bede’s Catholic Church, 3686 Ironbound Rd., Williamsburg at 11 am on Tuesday, January 14. To send condolences go to www.nelsencares.com.

In lieu of flowers donations may be made to The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.