Helen Lynn Noel

Helen Clarissa Culbreath Noel, 90 years of age, passed away peacefully on December 25, 2016 in San Diego, California. “Lynn”, as she was fondly called, was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on January 9, 1926 to Jesse and Annabelle Culbreath (nee Satterwhite). The Culbreath family moved to Norristown, Pennsylvania shortly after Lynn’s birth. Lynn graduated from Rittenhouse High School in Norristown and furthered her education at Meharry Medical College and the University of Denver. While attending these two higher education institutions, Lynn’s areas of study included classes related to dental hygiene and broadcast journalism/communications. While at Meharry, Lynn met dental student, Andrew J. Noel, Jr., from Jackson, Mississippi. The couple married on November 11, 1945. During the Korean War, Dr. Noel was enlisted in the Army as a dentist and was stationed in Ota, Japan where his wife and daughter joined him in the early 1950’s. After his stint in the Army, the family moved to Denver, Colorado where Dr. Noel set up a medical/dental practice with his older brother, Dr. Edmond F. Noel, Sr. During the 1950’s, when Mrs. Noel was not helping her husband manage his office, she was a civil rights activist with a keen interest in politics. She was a loyal and devoted member of the Democratic Party and ran for Colorado State Representative, First District in 1966. In 1968, she actively worked on presidential candidate, Hubert Humphrey’s, campaign bid for the United States presidency. In 1967, Mrs. Noel became the first African-American news anchor to appear on a Colorado television station (KMGH, Channel 7). In 1973, Mrs. Noel transferred to Channel 7’s affiliate (KERO) in Bakersfield, California as Public Affairs Director and remained with them until her retirement in 1996. Mrs. Noel has been awarded numerous times for her in-depth documentaries and received numerous awards for her work in the community. During her tenure as Public Affairs Director, Mrs. Noel also hosted her own television show at KERO. Upon retirement, Mrs. Noel moved to Las Vegas, Nevada, Denver, Colorado and San Diego, California. Mrs. Noel is survived by daughters: Andrea “Devi” Noel/Rashida Kamal, Deirdre “Dede” Lipscomb and son-in-law, Alvin Lipscomb; by son; Andrew “Drew” J. Noel, III and daughter-in-law Sandra K Noel; ten grandchildren: Khalidah Kamal; Dr. Rani Kamal; Karima Kamal Bridges; Professor Rafiq Kamal and his wife, Fareedah Kamal; Joshua Lipscomb; Jared Lipscomb; Jadah Queen and her husband, Pastor Jason Queen; Janai Lipscomb; Joseph McDonough and Mary McDonough; 14-great grandchildren; sisters: Edith Culbreath Smith of Lansdale, Pennsylvania (Dr. Peter J. Smith, Sr., deceased); Wilhelmina “Dee” Barnes of Tuskegee, Alabama and her husband, Dr. A. O. Barnes; brothers: Ernest Culbreath, of Norristown, Pennsylvania (Anna Hopson Culbreath, deceased); and 1956 Olympic bronze medal winner, Joshua Culbreath of Gwynedd, Pennsylvania; Sister-in-law: Betty “Bett” J. Culbreath of Gwynedd; numerous nieces and nephews. Mrs. Noel was preceded in death by grandson, Christopher McDonough; sisters-in-law: Lois “Sissie” Braithwaite (John C. Noel, deceased), Hackensack, New Jersey; Gladys Noel Bates (Dr. John M. Bates, Sr., deceased); and Rachel B. Noel, (Dr. Edmond F. Noel, Sr., deceased) both of Denver, Colorado. Mrs Noel had been a member of the Denver and Las Vegas Chapters of the Links, Inc, the Denver Chapter of the Jack and Jill Club of America, a troop leader for the Girl Scouts of the United States of America, and a member of the Order of the Eastern Star.