Noles A. Esponge

Noles Antoine “Allen” Esponge passed away on Tuesday, April 28, 2020 at the age of 91. Beloved and devoted husband of Nellie Ruth “Nell” Gunnels Esponge for 70 years. Loving father of William James Esponge (wife, Vicki) and Steven Wayne Esponge (wife, Kathy). Son of the late Dorcelie Esponge Sr. and Henrietta Galliano Esponge. Brother of Norris J. Esponge Sr. (wife, Shirley) and the late Dorcelie Esponge Jr.

Proud grandfather of William Gregory Esponge (wife, Angela) and Kristina Esponge Terry (husband, Michael). Great grandfather of Kennedy Terry, Mason Terry, Kingston Terry and Maverick Terry. Also survived and fondly remembered by many nieces, nephews and dear friends.

Noles was a native of Golden Meadow, LA and resided in Grand Isle, LA, New Orleans, LA, and Arabi, LA before settling in Lacombe, LA. He served in the U.S. Army from 1947-1949; Infantry 82nd Airborne Division. Known as "Papa Noles" to his fellow freemasons, he was a 50 plus year Master Mason in the Grand Lodge of Louisiana and member of Dante Lodge No. 174. He was also a 49 year member of the Jerusalem Shrine Motorcycle Escort Unit where he loved working with the crippled children, burn center patients and of course, the Shrine circus each year.

He retired after 35 years of working offshore with Standard Oil Company which later became Chevron Corporation. Truly the outdoorsman, he loved fishing, shrimping, crabbing, duck and deer hunting, boating, boatbuilding, etc. He also had a great love of camping with both his family and with his sons while in the Boy Scouts as well as taking extended family road trip type vacations all across the United States. As he grew older, he truly enjoyed tinkering with his Harley Davidson motorcycle and riding it as well, sometimes with his precious Nell riding along with him.

Private funeral services will be held at ST. BERNARD MEMORIAL FUNERAL HOME, 701 W Virtue St., Chalmette, LA. He will be laid to rest in St. Bernard Memorial Gardens.