Dr. Raymond Noblet

On August 6, 2024, Raymond Noblet, 81 years old, died peacefully at home in Watkinsville, GA, with family by his side. He had recently been diagnosed as having a very rare and debilitating neurological disease (Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease or CJD) for which there was no cure. He was deeply loved by his family. Throughout his life, he treasured his roles as husband, father, grandfather, brother, and friend as he progressed through his career as a dedicated scientist in the field of Medical and Veterinary Entomology.

Raymond is the 8th of 10 children born to Andrew Jackson and Della Kastner Noblet. He was born on August 5, 1943, in his family home located in the mountains of Northeast Georgia between Helen and Hiawassee, GA. As a child and young man, he helped with family chores which included milking the cow and feeding the hogs before he left for school each morning. He graduated from Towns County High School in 1961. As part of his studies in the Vocational Agriculture Program, he was a member of the Livestock Judging team and the Soil Judging team. It was during this time, that his teacher for this program strongly encouraged his to attend a university. He began his college experience at Berry College, but after for 2 years, he transferred to the University of Georgia, where he earned his B.S. degree, his M.S. degree and his PhD in Entomology. While a student, Ray worked for the Soil Conservation Service during the summers. Upon completion of his PhD, Ray was hired by the Department of Entomology and Economic Biology at Clemson University. In 1972, he met his future wife, Ruby Gayle Pittman from the plains of the Oklahoma Panhandle when she arrived to join the faculty at Clemson. They were married at First Baptist Church in Pendleton, SC, on March 17, 1973. Two of the happiest days of his life were when his two sons were born — Nicholas Hershey Noblet on November 28, 1977, and Jared Raymond Noblet on December 12, 1980.

From very humble beginnings, Ray worked his way to prominence in science and higher education. Ray was a leader from the beginning. He was senior class president (1961) in high school and in his senior yearbook he was listed as most likely to succeed, most intellectual, and most courteous; his pet peeve was listed as “people who continually complain.” To those who knew Ray, these are traits that he carried throughout his life. Ray continued his educational path at Berry College in Rome, GA. During this time, he was required to serve on the student-work force where he worked cutting timber, an experience that was very formative for him, as he had many stories about his timber cutting days. In 1963 he transferred to the University of Georgia as a junior entomology major. After completing his B.S., he continued his education at the University of Georgia where he completed an M.S. under Dr. Preston Hunter working with flies and a Ph.D under Dr. Weathersby working with mosquitoes and malaria. His dissertation working with malaria was related to the problems the military was having with malaria during the Vietnam War.

Ray began his professional career at Clemson University in 1970 where he was hired as an insect physiologist. He quickly ascended through the faculty ranks and by 1977 served as President of the Faculty Senate, a precursor of leadership roles to come. In 1985 he transitioned to a medical and veterinary entomologist role. Throughout his Clemson career he worked with black flies (Diptera:Simuliidae) and the diseases they transmit and their control. His black fly control experience provided him a point of notoriety that was noticed by researchers at Abbott Laboratories who were actively developing formulations of the biological larvcide, Bacillus thuringiensis subsp. israelensis for black fly suppression. This work led to 35 years of financial support and the development and maintenance of what is now the world’s only known colony of black flies. While having a wide range of scientific interests and successes, Ray probably made his most impactful contributions collaborating with Abbott Laboratories and assisting in the development of highly efficacious formulations of the Vectobac 12AS larvicide. These formulations were used to fight Onchoceriasis transmission in West Africa and remain the gold standard for black fly suppression around the world. During this time, Ray was also instrumental in the establishment of The Institute of Wildlife and Environmental Toxicology (TIWET) at Clemson University. He served as a key administrative leader for this group which quickly grew to over 80 graduate students by 1995.

In 1997, Ray returned to his roots when he was hired to serve as Department Head for the University of Georgia Entomology Department. He served successfully in this role until 2016 when he retired after having served for a total of 46 years in academia. His time of leadership as department head at UGA resulted in an extended period of stability as the department thrived, becoming one of the most respected entomology departments in the country. In addition to his administrator responsibilities, Ray served as a leader and mentor for a multitude of students. He was an advisor for at least 67 theses and dissertations, and many of these students became leaders in a wide range of scientific fields. He also authored or coauthored 94 refereed publications, the precise number difficult to establish due to the wide and diverse reach of his career. A friend of his said it best — “Ray was a kind, dependable and trusted colleague to many and a friend to all. He will be missed.” At the time of his death, Ray was a member of First Baptist Church in Athens. He was a devoted Christian whose life exemplified his Faith. He had served the Lord in a variety of ways at three different churches (First Baptist Church [FBC] in Pendleton, SC, Clemson, SC and Athens, GA). In each, he was a member of the Board of Deacons (Chair, FBC Clemson), taught adult Sunday School classes and was on a variety of Committees (Finance Committee, FBC Athens).

Ray is survived by his wife of 51 years, his son Nicholas Noblet and family (wife Courtney and daughters Elizabeth Grace, Caroline Coleman and Sarah Margaret Noblet) and his son Jared Noblet and family (wife Christina, sons Kaden Jack, Brooks Raymond, and Brody John Noblet).

He was preceded in death by his parents, his brothers (Alvin, Earl, and Ernest Noblet), sisters (Dorthy Moore, Betty Nicholson, and Rachel Holdaway Elder). He is survived by his brother Henry Cline Noblet and sisters Muriel Moody and Lea Noblet Drane. He is also survived by his sister-in-law Claudine Noblet, brother-in-law Doug Nicholson, nephew Nathan Noblet from Hiawassee, GA, brother-in-law and wife Kent and Carmen Pittman from Mt. Juliet, TN, cousins Mike Hershey from Hugoton, Kansas, M.R. and Christy Hershey from Coffeyville, Kansas, and numerous nephews and great nephews, great nieces, and great-great nephews and nieces.

Funeral services for Raymond Noblet will be held at 2:00 p.m., on Saturday, August 10, at First Baptist Church in Athens. A reception will follow this service. A graveside service with family will take place in Oconee Hill Cemetery earlier that morning.

The family wishes to extend its gratitude to neurologist Dr. James J. Lah, MD, PhD, Emory University for help with the diagnosis and for his most kind and thoughtful interactions with Ray and family. Sincere thanks to Elmer Gray and Dr. Peter Adler for their contributions to the writing of the Obituary.

Remembrances may be made to the Building Fund of First Baptist Church, Athens, or to the graduate student program in the Entomology Department at the University of Georgia.

Bernstein Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.