NWA Capt. Noel L. Smith

update/complete online obituary...........................

NOEL SMITH (1931 - 2015)

Noel Lester Smith On Saturday, October 17, 2015, Captain Noel Lester Smith, 84, went to be with his beloved "Petie" after a 15-year battle with prostate cancer. Noel was born July 19, 1931 in Madison, WI to Genevieve and Charles L. "Les" Smith. Les and his twin brother Lee and older brother Chad were among the first 12 pilots hired by Northwest Airlines (NWA). In his youth in Minneapolis Noel was an acclaimed junior horseman. He earned a degree in animal husbandry and agriculture from the University of Minnesota, and became a Navy carrier pilot. He was stationed with the U.S. Sixth Fleet in Naples, and made 128 carrier landings flying the Douglas AD-5 Skyraider. In 1955 Noel was coming home on leave when he met Phyllis Joan "Petie" Peters, who was a NWA stewardess on the flight. Lt. Junior Grade Noel L. Smith and Petie married in 1956, and their first residence was in Northfield, NJ. They moved to Minneapolis in 1957 and Noel became a pilot for Northwest Airlines. During his 30 years with the airline, they also lived in Rosemount, MN, and Honolulu, HI before transferring to the Seattle, WA area in 1972, and eventually retiring in Clyde Hill, WA. Noel and Petie were married for 55 years until her death in 2012. Together they raised five children. Their beloved middle child, Cathy, died in 2007. Noel is survived by four remaining children, Angela (Oscar) Moretti of St. Louis, MO, Michael B. (Christie) Smith of Tacoma, WA, Patricia Doyle (Greg Walan) of North Aurora, IL, and Stone (Samantha) Smith of Bothell, WA. In addition, he is survived by 10 grandchildren, Laura (Grant) Challen, Adrian Moretti, Alison and Adam Smith, Kim Hollins, Erin and Tom Doyle, and Benjamin, Zachary and Samuel Smith, and two great-grandsons, Matthew and Michael Challen. Additional survivors include his younger brother Robert (Diane) Smith of Midway, UT and Scottsdale, AZ. niece Sheryl (John) LaFalce of Golden, CO, and nephew David Smith of Houston, TX. A private funeral service is being planned for summer 2016 at St. Charles parish in Tacoma, WA that will be followed by a ceremony and inurnment of Noel and Petie's ashes at Tahoma National Cemetery.

Published in News Tribune (Tacoma) on Dec. 20, 2015

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~ IN MEMORY ~

Navy veteran, NWA Capt. Noel L. Smith

July 19, 1931 ~ October 17, 2015

Notification with the passing of RNPA member retired NWA pilot Captain Noel L. Smith, age 84.  Captain Smith joined Northwest Airlines 08-07-1957 and retired with Northwest in 1987.  He was widowed in February of 2012 with the death of his wife former NWA stewardess Phyllis Joan 'Petie' neé Peters Smith ...... Petie's obituary appears below.  Captain Smith had most recently resided at 7290 Rosemount Circle in Tacoma, Washington. 

Should we receive further information, we will be sure to pass it along and update our memorial site.

            Thank you,

                ~ Carol for the PCN 

From: William Day    Sent: Friday, October 30, 2015 1:11 PM   Subject: Captain Noel Smith has passed away

NWA Captain Noel Smith, age 84 of Tacoma, Washington, passed away on October 17, 2015. Noel retired as a 747 captain on July 31, 1987. Noel was the son of Les Smith, of the legendary Smith twins of NWA fame. He was preceded in death by his wife and a daughter. A memorial service will be held next summer.

William Day

RNPA Contrails obituary editor

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Phyllis J. Smith obituary..................

  Phyllis Joan (Petie) Smith (nee Peters), passed away suddenly and unexpectedly in Naples, FL on February 13th, 2012 while vacationing with her husband. Phyllis is survived by her loving husband of 55 years, Noel L. Smith of Clyde Hill and 4 remaining children: Angela (Oscar) Moretti of Houston, TX; Michael B. (Christie) of Tacoma, WA; Patricia J. Doyle of Chicago, IL; and Stone (Samantha) Smith of Bothell, WA. In addition she is survived by 10 grandchildren: Laura (Grant) Challen, Adrian Moretti, Alison and Adam Smith, Kim Hollins, Erin and Tom Doyle, and Benjamin, Zachary and Samuel Smith - and one great grandson, Matthew Challen who was born on her 82nd birthday. Additional survivors include her older brother Warren Peters of Superior WI, brother-in-law Robert (Diane) Smith of Henderson, NV, nephew Kevin Christian (Nancy Love) of Des Moines, WA, Joannie (Gil) Lyons of Redmond, WA and many other beloved nieces and nephews. Petie is preceded in death by her parents and 3 older siblings: Sylvester, Lloyd and Esther as well as her beloved daughter Catherine Ann Smith.

   Petie was born on April 28, 1929, in St. Cloud, MN. Petie was the youngest of 5 children born to Hubert & Abbie Peters (Wocken). She was a graduate of Cathedral High School in St. Cloud. Petie was 1 of 5 women among the 115 graduates receiving their B.S. in Business Administration from Marquette University in 1951 (Milwaukee, WI).

   As a 'stewardess' with Northwest Airlines, Petie met a passenger who became the love of her life and from whom she was inseparable the rest of her days, Lt. Junior Grade Noel L. Smith. Noel and Petie married in 1956 and their 1st residence was in Northfield N.J. where Noel was stationed as a Navy carrier pilot.

   They moved to Minneapolis in 1957 and Noel became a pilot for Northwest Airlines. During his 30 years with the airline, they also lived in Rosemount, MN, and Honolulu, HI before transferring to the Seattle, WA area in 1972, and eventually retiring in Clyde Hill, WA.

   In addition to being a wonderful wife, homemaker and mother, Petie was giving of her time and talents to her community. She has been an active supporter of Sacred Heart Church, the Overlake Hospital Foundation, and a long time active member of the Overlake Country Club ladies' division. Petie was a member of the Cancer Auxiliary at Overlake Hospital and was an active walker in the Walk for Life program at Bellevue Square. She was also a lifetime member of Marquette University's President's Club and the Evans Scholars Par Club. She also belonged to the Children's Hospital Circle of Care, the Marquette Alumni Club of Western, WA, and the Northwest Airlines Retired Airline Pilots Association.

 Visitation will take place at Sunset Hills Funeral Home, 1215 145th PL SE, Bellevue, WA, on Friday, February 17, 2012 from 4:00 p.m. until 8:00pm. The funeral mass will take place Saturday, February 18, 2012, 11:00 a.m. at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Clyde Hill. Online sentiments may be journaled at www.sunsethillsfuneralhome.com. Sunset Hills Funeral Home of Bellevue, has been entrusted with arrangements.