NOBLE DEE CHASTAIN

A giant of a man, Noble Dee Chastain, departed his earthly life to be with his Lord and Savior on July 17, 2020. A memorial service was held Tuesday, July 21, 2020, at St. Olaf Lutheran Church, in Cranfills Gap, Texas.

Born during the Depression in St. Louis, Missouri, on January 25, 1937, he left home at the age of fourteen after completing only eight grades of school. He survived on doing oddjobs until he joined the United States Air Force when he turned seventeen. He would often say, the Air Force “saved my life.”

Four years later in Waco, Texas, he would meet the love of his life, Yvonne Goodwin. They married on June 30, 1959, shortly before Noble left for South Korea. Noble served as a cryptologist in Vietnam during the war, and also served in Taiwan, England, and Washington D.C. While stationed in D.C., he attended college and was short only six hours of completing a degree before he was transferred out. He ended up at Bergstrom Air Force Base in Austin, Texas, where he retired in 1974. He would spend the next twenty-seven years in Austin, working for the Texas Department of Transportation and raising his family.

On July 25, 1977, he found the Lord, surrendered his dependence on alcohol, and devoted the rest of his life to earnestly leading others to sobriety. He celebrated this day every year, passing away only a week before his 43rd sobriety anniversary.

He retired from TxDot in 2000, and moved to Cranfills Gap, Texas, where he found his “heaven on earth.” Noble became an active member of St. Olaf Lutheran Church. He loved the Lord and his family. Though never one to accept praise, he was a great and caring man, who made all feel welcome. Noble remained a humble servant of the Lord until his death.

He will be deeply missed by all those he left behind.

He is preceded in death by his mother, Mabel Atchison, and his sister, Rita Shelton.

He is survived by his wife, of 61 years, Yvonne Chastain; his three children, Michael Scott Chastain, Dedra Leah (Terry) Janda, and Paula Jeanne (Bill) Duncan; two brothers, Clifford Otto and Johnny Otto; one sister, Kathy Riley; grandchildren, Michael Chastain, Noble Chastain, Rachael Janda, Emma Janda, Jeremy Janda, Jessica McCall, Riley Katzer, Avery Katzer, Cooper Katzer, Heather Valdez, Lindsey Gustafson, and Lauren Rangel; greatgrandchildren, David Faechner, Emily Faechner, Hayden Valdez, Colette Rangel, and Anthony Rangel.

Noble is also survived by numerous nieces and nephews. His list of friends is endless.