OLYMPIA, Wash. – The Washington State Patrol honored Trooper Charles Frank Noble Jr., who was killed in the line of duty on February 5, 1972.
Noble, born in Sacramento, California, enlisted in the United States Navy in 1950 and served during the Korean War.
After his service, he joined the Washington State Patrol as a driver’s license examiner in 1957, later becoming a trooper in Renton.
He was transferred to Sunnyside in 1969 and was a father of five at the time of his death. Noble was shot during a traffic stop near Toppenish by a furloughed convict.
In February 2022, a ceremony was held at the Union Gap Office to honor Trooper Noble on the 50th anniversary of his death.
In June 2022, a memorial garden was dedicated at the Union Gap District Office in remembrance of Noble and two other fallen troopers from District Three.
Currently, Pasco Senator Nikki Torres is pushing SJM 8003 in the Washington State Legislature to designate the overpass over Interstate 82 as the Washington State Patrol Trooper Charles Frank Noble, Jr. memorial overpass.
Trooper Noble’s legacy continues through his family. His son Keith retired as a police officer in Kennewick, while his other children and stepchildren have pursued various careers and continue to honor his memory.
