Max Wilbur Noah, Lieutenant General, U.S. Army (Ret.)

Max Wilbur Noah, Lieutenant General, U.S. Army (Ret.) Passed away on Friday, June 15, 2018 at the age of 86 from complications from a rare autoimmune disease known as Churg Strauss or EGPA. Since early in his marriage to Priscilla VanSickler Noah, the Daughter of Colonel Donald Robert “Van” VanSickler, they have spent most of their summers in Maine with family. Colonel VanSickler’s christmastree farm and old barn between Sangerville and Dover Foxcroft was the one consistent place General Noah and his family had over his 35 years of service in the United States Army. LTG Noah retired from active service as the Comptroller of the Army. He commanded at many levels including Commander of the United States Army Engineer School at Fort Belvoir, Huntsville Division Commander building in Israel on two critical airfields that played a part in the peace negotiations by President Carter, Commander, Saint Paul District for the Corps of Engineers, Commander, 2nd Engineer Group in the Republic of Korea, and Commander, 307th Engineer Battalion of the 82nd Airborne Division at Fort Bragg. Noah graduated in 1953 from the United States Military Academy at West Point. He was a veteran of Vietnam and Korea.
General Noah held key postings to the Army Staff and at TRADOC in the areas of operations research and financial management. Highlights of his career include conserving natural resources on the upper Mississippi River, developing cost effective procedures to help modernize the Army’s major weapon systems, constructing airfields in the Negev desert in Israel after the Camp David Accords and teaching cadets “juice” as an Assistant Professor in USMA’s Department of Electrical Engineering. And his service didn’t stop in retirement. He continued to impact the Nation’s defense by working for Burdeshaw Associates and later his own defense consulting firm, and he volunteered his time with numerous non-profit and volunteer organizations, including the Army Science Board, the Association of the United States Army, the Army Engineer Association, the Army Historical Foundation, Georgia Military College, West Point Association of Graduates Finance Committee, among others. He also helped start many creative ideas concepts and developments with other entities like the North Carolina Global TransPark and the Institute for Defense and Business.
His military awards and decorations include two Distinguished Service Medals, two Legion of Merits, a Bronze Star, a Meritorious Service Medal and the Senior Parachutist Badge. Post retirement General Noah’s efforts and leadership continued to be recognized serving as honorary Colonel of the 307th Engineer Regiment, receipt of the Gold Deflurry from the Army Engineer Association, and the Distinguished Alumni from Georgia Military College (GMC). Max was particularly proud of his appointment as a Distinguished Graduate of the United States Military Academy in 2015.
LTG Noah grew up in Milledgeville, Georgia the son of Dr. Max and Dorothy Noah. He graduated from GMC and began his engineering education at Georgia Tech before receiving an offer of admission to the US Military Academy as an honor graduate of GMC. Max received his Master’s in Electrical Engineering from Purdue University. His military schooling included the US Army War College and the Defense System Analyst Course. He was a registered Professional Engineer in the State of New York.
Max stayed active in the military community pursuing his passion for our Nation’s defense, our Army, the Corps of Engineers, West Point, and the next generations of leaders. He was a well-respected leader and effective businessman assisting organizations and individuals attain greater outcomes for our nation. He enjoyed being a big part of the growth and development of the next two generations of his family. He was a leader in his neighborhood, community, and greatly enjoyed events with like-minded retired persons in various organizations, especially his prayer breakfast group. He enjoyed the family farm in Maine and returned to his love of the water swimming 20 laps a day at the Mount Vernon Recreation Center.
Max is survived by his loving wife, Priscilla Loyal Treat VanSickler Noah whom he married September 22, 1956, daughter Kimbel Burt and her husband LTC (USA-Ret) Michael of New Orleans LA; son Van Noah and wife Meena, of Chapel Hill, NC; daughter Dabney Moulton and husband James, of Longmont, CO; and six grandchildren, Tori Burt Paddock (Craig), Marilyn Moulton Hammond (Eric), Max Oh Noah, CPT Daniel Moulton (Meg), Michael N Burt, Jeffrey Moulton; and three great grandsons, Theodore and Otto Hammond, and James Allen Moulton. He is also survived by his sister Joy Noah McMillan and husband Michael McMillan with their extended family.
A memorial service will be held at 4 p.m. Friday, June 29 at Woodlawn Chapel on north post, 6050 Gorgas Road, Fort Belvoir, Virginia, followed by a reception and celebration of his life at the Fort Belvoir Officer’s Club on south post in the Castle room. His interment will take place at a later date at the United States Military Academy, West Point Cemetery with military honors.
Donations in memory of LTG Noah may be made to organizations and efforts to support cats in Maine. He was quite fond of the three Maine Coon cats, especially Zeus, since they joined the family over 20 years ago. General Noah also requested that his experience as a rare medical case and his remains be used to better understand Churg Strauss Syndrome (CSS) so that it can be more readily diagnosed and treated to improve the lives and survival of those who face it now or in the future.
Online condolences and fond memories of Max W Noah may be offered to the family at: www.moneyandking.com and www.westpointaog.org/memorialswww.westpointaog.org/memorials