SMITH, Noel Talbot

The Payson Roundup, Payson, Arizona, Friday, December 19, 2014 Noel Talbot Smith December 24, 1917 - November 12, 2014 Noel Talbot Smith, 96, passed away peacefully in Payson on Nov. 12, 2014. He enjoyed a long life helping children, the community and serving his church. His mother became one of the early female pilots in America and loved to fly. Noel became an aeronautical engineer and a “rocket scientist” for Garrett AiResearch (later Allied Signal and Honeywell). Noel was born on Christmas Eve 1917 in Vancouver, BC, to Katherine Talbot and Wilfred E. Smith. He attended some school in Canada before he and his mother moved to Glendale, Calif. There, Noel attended Herbert Hoover High School, Glendale Community College and Curtiss-Wright Technical Institute, where he earned his bachelor’s degree in aeronautical engineering. The Institute taught practical aircraft design with students producing actual aircraft that went into production. At Glendale Community College, he found true love with Maxine Price. They married on Jan. 17, 1943, and remained happily married for 66 years. In 1955, Allied Signal transferred Noel to Phoenix. Noel and Maxine, with their son, Scott, bought their first home in North Phoenix, where Noel and Maxine volunteered to serve Cross Roads Methodist Church with children and youth programs for many years, as well as programs for children housed at the Adobe Mountain Juvenile Detention Facility. The couple tragically lost their son to brain cancer when he was 16. Noel retired in 1986 after 43 years with Garrett. In 1988 they moved to Payson, where they helped to establish Payson United Methodist Church. In all, Noel volunteered service to Cross Roads, Faith and Payson United Methodist churches in many roles for more than 50 years as a church incorporator, trustee, treasurer, youth counselor, audio equipment operator, proofreader, handyman and more. Noel was preceded in death by his lovely and loving wife, Maxine, and their son, Scott Talbot Smith. A memorial service will be held for Noel at 3 p.m., Sunday Dec. 21, 2014, at Payson United Methodist Church, 414 N. Easy St., Payson, Ariz. In lieu of flowers, donations to the Payson United Methodist Church would be appreciated.