Noble Fredrick Ensminger, 95, just forty four days shy of his 96^th birthday, of Port Charlotte, Florida, formally of Heyworth, Bloomington and Peoria IL, passed from this life unexpectedly and peacefully in his sleep into Heaven on April 12, 2024. He was born May 26, 1928 in Heyworth, IL, and was the son of Frederick Leadford and Florence Noble Ensminger. He was married to Barbara Ann Parlier in 1950, who survives in Bloomington, and from this union were born Sherry Vondran, Stephen Ensminger and Janice McCormick. Grandchildren: Jared, Justin, and Joshua Southwell, Kiona, and Colette McCormick, and Seven Great Grandchildren: Taylor, Haley, Rylie, Ella, Brooke, Kate and Xavier; and two Great Great Grandchildren: Lily and Axel; his sisters, Jule Ensminger and Fern Ensminger Noth He later married Dora Sapp Lyons at Peoria, IL. He was preceded in death by his parents and sisters Louise Greenfield, Eleanor Smith, and Winifred Ensminger and Dora Ensminger.

Noble was a graduate of Heyworth High School, Class of 1946, U.S. Marine Corps Casual/Air Squadron 11, working in Aerial Photography, Illinois State University, majoring in Art, and Heartland Community College majoring in Computer Science. He was a Branch Manager for Electrolux, retiring in1986; Member of the Million Dollar Club at Snyder Real Estate, retiring in 1994 and Assistant Manager of Recruiting for the United States Census Bureau. He was an avid golfer and historian, researching the genealogies of the Ensminger and Noble families.

He was an Artist, loved to paint ‘plein air’ style in oils, acrylic, pastels and watercolor. He was a member of Artists Alley in Clinton IL and the Charlotte County Art Guild Visual Arts Center in Punta Gorda, FL. For over 30 years he won first and second placings on his artwork at Art Shows and fairs and won the State of Illinois first place award twice at the University of Illinois in Urbana. Noble always stated: “You never see anything as it really is until you have painted it.”

Being raised on his Great Grandfather Dr. Harrison Noble’s farm, which was homesteaded in 1832, he loved the outdoors and learned the value of a great work ethic. An avid sportsman, he loved to hunt in the timbers of IL and fish off the Venice Pier and look for shark’s teeth on Manasota Beach. He was baptized at the Heyworth Christian Church and his faith in Jesus Christ was truly evident and a part of his everyday life. Noble was proud of his “Noble” name which was a part of family history, as his Great Great Grandfather John Noble, was an English Sea Captain who left England, denounced his English citizenship, and fought in the Revolutionary War.

Noble was a very outgoing and friendly man, husband, father, grandfather, brother, uncle, neighbor and friend to many. Per his wishes, cremation services were accorded from Roberson Funeral Home, Port Charlotte, FL, and his ashes will be interred at Sarasota Florida National Military Cemetery with full military honors. He stated that moving to sunny Florida in 1995 was the one of the best decisions he ever made. Memorials may be made to the Heyworth Christian Church, 308 North Vine, Heyworth, IL or to any Pet Shelter of your choice.

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