| Notes |
- Noble Harley Stoneman 5-13-92
Email: nobleninja6@gmail.com
Ph.: 509-594-6976
My Son
May 10
Son
Noble Harley Stoneman, 25
Noble Harley Stoneman lost his life on May 10, 2018 in a tragic accident at Palouse Falls State Park where at least three other young men have died in recent months. Noble was on his way home to celebrate Mother's Day and his birthday on May 13th. Just days earlier, Noble was honored at graduation ceremonies at Washington State University where he proudly gave his family the tour of the campus and the Engineering department where he spent so much time. Noble received several job offers by private and state Engineering firms who welcomed his cheerful disposition, work skills, intelligence, and knowledge of Power Systems. In the days leading up to his death, Noble was so happy. He expressed an excitement about his future, relief he had completed his grueling class load, and tearful he would be moving away from his friends and family to begin his new job.
Noble was born in a log home on May 13, 1992, in Bozeman, Montana. When he was two years old, Noble suffered a traumatic injury as a result of child abuse and nearly lost his eye. Noble's parents separated and later divorced and Noble would spend the remainder of his childhood growing up in a single parent household with his mother, older brother, Nate, and two younger sisters, Faith and Honor. Noble learned to read as a homeschooler then attended a historic one-room schoolhouse just a mile from home in Jackson Creek, Montana. In 1999, the family moved to Pullman, Washington where they lived in a converted 100-year-old schoolhouse while the children attended Logos School. Noble enjoyed climbing trees, riding horses, building forts, and playing Gameboys, and spending time with cousins who lived nearby. Noble absolutely loved his little sisters and all four siblings shared a special bond. And Noble's big white German shepherd, Shelby, was never far behind. Noble sold popcorn each year to earn money to attend Boy Scout camp. He also helped his brother to deliver Newspapers for the Moscow-Pullman Daily News earning enough money to put a down payment on his first car. Noble wasn?t the typical teenager, he didn't experiment with drugs or alcohol, he preferred walking to driving because he didn't want to have to pay for the cost of drivers training, waiting instead until turning 18 years of age.
In 2004, Noble moved with his family to the Yakima Valley. He attended Naches Valley Schools where he enjoyed academics, music, and sports. He wrestled in the 185-weight class and took 7th in state. He achieved Life Scout in Boy Scouts of America while getting a Black Belt in Shudokan Karate. Noble and his brother Nate sometimes got confused as twins until Noble's growth spurt at 16, when Noble surpassed his brother in stature to become a handsome 6'2" young man. Noble had a part-time job as a cook at McDonalds and would work for his mom and grandparents. Noble enjoyed marching band, playing multiple instruments and going to competitions where the Band took numerous 1st place awards in 1A division.
People who knew Noble would tell you he lived up to his name. A name he earned by three years of age after initially being called "Matt". Noble was humble and kind, courageous, and strong. Noble would have contributed to his community in so many ways. Everywhere he went, Noble made an effort to greet people and bring a smile to their face. When Noble's WSU landlord of four years learned of his death, she burst into tears and said that Noble was the kindest tenant she had ever known, and there were hundreds of tenants she supervised over the years. Noble asked nothing from anyone, nor complained about no one. Noble drove an old car with over 200,000 miles, walked everywhere for exercise, wore old clothes to save money, and had less than $3500 of college debt at graduation. It was how he faced life, looking at problems, figuring them out, taking responsibility, and applying a good dose of humor along the way, always adding the humor and making us laugh along with him. Noble kept his room tidy, remembered to take his vitamins and call his mom. One of his favorite past times was speed running (gaming) with the friends he loved so dear. When mom signed him up with an online dating service this last year, Noble had other ideas, declaring that his wife could wait, and that finishing his rigorous studies as an engineering student was his priority. Noble's loved ones will never meet his wife, never hold his children, never hear his incredible baritone voice, or feel his big bear hugs. Noble's impact on people is being felt daily as his family learns more and more how much he was loved. On the night in which he died, Noble startled his mother as she was speaking with a sheriff's chaplain who had escorted her home. Noble came up behind her and assured her that he was in a better place and he would be with her. When Franklin County sheriff's department called off the search for Nobles body two days later, Noble's mother resumed the search on her own with a team of family and friends. She believes Noble lead her to his body with two others and kept them safe as they canoed and hiked the four and one-half-mile journey along the 200 ft. high canyon, scaling cliff walls, avoiding rattle snakes, and the drop-off into the rapids, at dawn on the morning of May 14th. When the helicopter landed, the authorities had no idea who the woman was on the other side, nor would they come to know what to expect from a mother who watched as they laughed and chatted then zipped her sons body up in a body bag like a piece of trash. After all, it was just another dead body, just another day of recovery at Palouse Falls State Park.
Noble didn't claim a religion nor understand a love language. He lived his love language by how he treated those who could do nothing for him. The world will have one less good person now that Noble is gone. We are grateful that for one brief time, we were fortunate enough to have shared the earth with this blessed soul.
Noble is survived by his mother, Ruth Drollinger, his older brother, Nate Stoneman, his little sisters, Faith Stoneman Odman, and Honor Stoneman Crawford, grand parents, Harley and Pat Drollinger, and numerous cousins. A fund has been set up at Washington State Employees Credit Union for a Scholarship Fund to honor the life and death of Noble Stoneman for a deserving scholar.
by Ruth Drollinger
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1992 - 2018 (25 years)
