Noble "Spike" Harris

Noble “Spike” Harris, 93 of Abilene, passed away at a local medical center on Friday June 24, 2016. A graveside service will be held at 11:00 am Friday, July 1st, 2016 in the Texas State Veteran Cemetery with a memorial service to follow at 2:00 pm at Hope Church of Christ, 831 N Judge Ely Blvd, Abilene, TX 79601. A time of visitation with the family will be held following the service. Arrangements are under the direction of Piersall Funeral Directors, 733 Butternut St.

Noble was born in Meadow, Texas (28 miles southwest of Lubbock) on August 18, 1922 to DJ and Clara Copeland Harris. He graduated from Meadow High School in 1938 and then started college at Abilene Christian College (now ACU).

In 1942 Noble enlisted in the U.S. Navy and qualified for V-12, the officer candidate program. He was sent to Tulagi in the British Solomon Islands where he was officer in charge of a large Navy Fuel Tank Farm, which fueled amphibious ships.

When the war was over, Noble returned to ACC and finished his Business Administration degree in 1947. He got his nickname, “Spike” at ACC from playing volleyball and spiking the ball. On June 30, 1947, Spike married Bette Joyce of Snyder. They were happily married for 69 years. They had 2 children, a son Paul and a daughter, Camille whose daughter, Joy, is Spike and Bette’s only grandchild.

In 1952 Noble began selling real estate as the owner of his own firm. He was a member of FIABCI, an international real estate association and enjoyed traveling to Europe, Brazil and Mexico for FIABCI and Rotary conventions. Through his involvement with Rotary, Spike developed a relationship with the director of Elim Children’s Home in India and through the years he sponsored many of the children at that home. His desire to help young people also played out in his service on the board at the International Christian University in Vienna, Austria for many years.

Spike was a strong Christian man who believed in “service above self.” He and Bette were active members of University Church of Christ for many years and he worked with many organizations in town to make Abilene a better place to live and raise a family.

Surviving Noble are his wife Bette, son Paul, daughter Camille, granddaughter Joy and two nieces Cathy Chisolm and Melanie Savage, all of Abilene. Preceding him in death were his parents and a sister.

Condolences may be offered online at www.pbfuneraldirectors.com. The family suggests memorials be made to Hope Church of Christ, 831 N Judge Ely Blvd, Abilene, TX 79601 or University Church of Christ, 733 EN 16th St Abilene, TX 79601.