Donald J. Noe, 89, of Vancouver died Friday, March 9, 2012. He was born October 10, 1922 in Metamora, Illinois, where he lived until he entered the service in 1943.

A proud veteran of WWII, Don served as 1st Lieutenant with the American 8th Army Air Force, 385th Bombardment Group. He was a highly decorated B-17 Pilot, flying 32 missions over Normandy, Germany, and Northern France. Don married his childhood sweetheart, Loretta, in February 1945. After honorable discharge from the service, Don and Loretta settled in So. California where they raised 3 daughters and 2 grandsons. Don was general manager at a Ford dealership in Los Angeles until his retirement. He and Loretta moved to Vancouver, WA in 1989 where Don enjoyed landscaping, gardening, reading, and collecting Native American artwork.

Don was a man of integrity, kindness, and compassion whose deep devotion to his wife and family was always his first priority. He was a person others came to for advice, a man people looked up to and respected, a ‘gentleman’ of the truest sort.

Don is survived by his loving wife, Loretta; daughters, Carolyn Noe (Thompson), Kathi Johnson and Debra Noe; grandsons, Jonathan Thompson and Matthew Thompson; and great-grandchildren Luke, Bridget, and Sophie Thompson.

A funeral service for Don will be held Tuesday March 20th at 11am at Hamilton Mylan Funeral Home, Vancouver. Interment with military honors will be held Wednesday March 21st at 10am at Willamette National Cemetery, Portland.