Eleanor Shirley Noble, aged 89, passed away peacefully on 9th March 2025 at Elgar Court Care Home, Malvern, surrounded by her family.

Shirley was born on 12th January, 1936 to loving parents, James and Lily Coxon in Newcastle Upon Tyne. She often shared treasured memories of a happy childhood, including being evacuated to Garragill in Cumbria during World War 2.

Shirley graduated with an honours degree in Town and Country Planning from Kings College, University of Durham in 1959. She started first job at Newcastle Council in the Planning Department and followed it with many successful jobs in this field.

In 1956 Shirley met Bruce Noble at the Kings College Planning Society. Shirley and Bruce married in 1959 and spent 46 years of happy marriage together. They both worked successfully in the fields of Town Planning and Architecture, moving around the country to work on major building projects. As well as their work, they went on to have 2 children, Emma and Ailsa.

As well as being a wife, mother, and grandmother, Shirley had many interests and hobbies. She loved gardening and enjoyed time in the garden and propagating a wide range of plants and vegetables. She was an accomplished artist and painted many beautiful pictures of flora and fauna, which now adorn her daughters’ homes. Shirley had a deep interest in history and read extensively on the subject of British Royalty, a topic which she used to inform her talks on Kings and their mistresses, which she gave to many local groups and specifically to the Women’s Institute. Shirley enjoyed her time in the WI enormously, including holding office and made many lifelong friends as part of her work with them. She also worked as Assistant Matron at Malvern Girls College and did lay visiting in Worcester.

Shirley’s greatest love was her faith and the strength and happiness it brought her. She was a member of All Saints Church and then St Andrew’s Church and maintained strong links with both until the end.

She is survived and deeply missed by her daughters Emma and Ailsa and granddaughters Phoebe and Olivia.

A cremation will take place at the Vale Crematorium, Pershore on Friday 28th March, 2025 at 10.00am followed by a Thanksgiving Service to be held at All Saints Church, Wells Rd, Malvern WR14 4PA at 11.30am

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the Alzheimer’s Society and All Saints Church.