Leila Buck Noble

Leila Buck Noble, 97, of Durham NC, passed away on January 27, 2026. She is survived by children Richard (Clay) Noble (wife Stephanie) of Raleigh NC, Virginia (Ginny) Noble of Durham NC, and John Noble of Oakland CA, and grandchildren Brooks Noble of Portland Oregon and Monica Noble of Charlotte NC.

A city girl growing up, Leila spent much of her childhood in Washington, D.C., in an apartment near the Capitol. She graduated from Randolph-Macon Woman’s College in 1952 and then trained in library science at Catholic University in Washington, where she married Baxter G. Noble, M.D. in 1954. Leila lived most of her adult life in Kinston, (Lenoir County) NC, but moved to The Forest at Duke Retirement Community in Durham in 2009.

At different times in her life, Leila refinished antique furniture, researched and wrote about Lenoir County history, and delved into family genealogy. Always a voracious reader, she loved fiction and finance. An astute investor and meticulous recordkeeper, Leila needed no help managing her own affairs. In her last years, even in her last days, she could be found in the afternoons studying the print copy of the Wall Street Journal with her magnifying glass.

Leila’s devotion to her family, her kindness to everyone around her, and her sharp mind will be greatly missed.

The staff at The Forest at Duke, particularly in the Health Center, took wonderful care of Leila in many different phases of her life. She was greatly appreciative of this support, as is her family.