Barbara Noone

Barbara Noone passed away peacefully in her sleep on January 23, 2023, just shy of her 99th birthday.

Barbara was born in St. Joseph, Missouri in 1924. Her mother, Francis Gilson, died three years later, and she was raised largely by both sets of grandparents until she was 11 years old. Her father, an engineer at General Electric, then married Eva Koehler, whom Barbara loved and called “Mom” for the rest of her life. They moved to Denver, where Barbara attended North High School and developed lifelong passions for education, reading, and fashion and was, among other things, a teen model.

In 1946, she graduated from the Colorado State College of Education in Greeley (now known as the University of Northern Colorado). She taught at Mitchell elementary school in Denver for several years before marrying James Noone in 1949. They lived initially in Kansas, where she continued to teach while he finished his studies.

Returning to Denver in 1950, she had the first of three children while supporting her husband as he built a successful career in architecture. She often hosted coffee/sewing hour for the neighbors. In 1968, she was an enthusiastic host to a foreign exchange student, Maria Viñuela from Spain, who quickly became an integral part of the family and remains more than 50 years later.

Barbara was very fond of animals, especially cats. She always had at least one at home, and every stray cat in the neighborhood would find its way to her door (she said she only ever bought one cat, and it was with Green Stamps). She enjoyed reading, entertaining, theater, art, and travel, and she was a constant support for her family.

After her children had left home, she spent many years working at local schools in Denver and volunteering at the library. She and James enjoyed gardening, hosting backyard barbecues, and travelling, visiting 49 states (North Dakota was the lone exception). She spent years caring for older relatives and forged new friendships throughout her life, most notably in recent years with Windy Marshall.

At age 95, Barbara and her best friend of more than 80 years, Phyllis Hines, celebrated their birthdays together again – this time with a local news crew there.

See the video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3GefcZgfG40 .

In her later years she took on a motto, “I’m brave, I’m strong, I’m smart, I’m beautiful, and I can do this,” that was a fitting summation to all ten decades of her life and lesson for those around her. She appreciated reflecting on the great changes across her lifetime, from the Great Depression to World War II to a man on the moon to transatlantic video calls, which allowed her to see relatives across the world through the pandemic isolation.

Barbara will be remembered for her warm smile, her sharp sense of humor, her fierce love for family, and her advocacy for all creatures great and small.

Barbara is survived by her three children, Leslie Noone of Fort Collins, Mark (Julie) Noone of Lakewood, and Polly Thompson of Aurora; her three grandchildren, Brian (Kate Aspinall), Liam, and Sam Noone; numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins; and many friends and relatives across the US, Spain, and Switzerland. She is preceded in death by her husband; her sister, Jean Reichen; her son-in-law, Mike Thompson; and 50+ cats.

Her family would be delighted if you shared your memories of Barbara and your photos on the Tribute Wall.

A commemoration of her life will take place in the spring, and she will be laid to rest in Fort Logan Cemetery next to James. In lieu of flowers please make donations to the Denver Dumb Friends League, your local library, or a charity of your choice.