Nobles, Tom “Charlie”

QM3 THOMAS E. “CHARLIE” NOBLES

I Thomas E. Nobles was born 23 November 1932, at Punta Gorda, Florida. The library there was dedicated to my uncle Pascal Bernard Nobles, “Buster”. I have brown hair and my eyes are blue. My ancestry is British. My siblings were Daniel, Teddy, and Mickey.

My rearing took place at South 6 Street, in Chipley, Florida. My hobbies included hunting, fishing, and telling stories. I was a Boy Scout and loved to camp out. My favorite holiday was Christmas. I once dressed up and played Santa Claus. I played football at Chipley High School, where I graduated in 1950.

From Chipley, Florida I went off to enlist in the Navy being sworn in 4 January 1951, and then going to basic training at NTC Great Lakes. I was received for duty on board USS FRANK E. EVANS (DD 754) 14 May 1951. My battle station was the 20mm machine gun on the starboard side. I became a quartermaster, eventually going to Signaling School in Maryland. I served until 12 September 1954; 3 years 4 months.

My best friend was Francis Hayes who owned a barbershop in Chipley. James Nettles was my long time friend. Rob Roy Ashmore was my best man when I wed Catherine on Thanksgiving Day in 1954. My children are Thomas Jr., Mark, & Beth, and my grandchildren are Mandee & Katie. We currently live at 1211 SE 27 St. Ocala, Florida 34471. Post Navy, I became a student at Florida State University, where I graduated in 1959 with a major in politics. In 1956, at 24, I ran for State Representative, but lost the election.

My first job was with the Florida State Road Department (DOT) for $75.00/month. While a student at FSU I had a paper route for the Tallahassee Democrat, which covered 200 square miles. After graduation from FSU, I went to work for Lobrano Machinery Co. I was employed as a salesman for Ring Power Corporation, a division of Caterpillar Inc., and was also Deputy Director of Administration for the Florida Department of Transportation.

In 1964, June, I found three lost boys, and was considered a hero by some. In 1974, I obtained my real estate license. I wrote a book, While Climbing Tom’s Mountain – “Events”.