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Obituary

Robert M. Noble, 66, passed away on June 30, 2026, following a tragic motorcycle accident.  The oldest son of eight siblings was born in 1960, the Year of the Dragon, and embodied the best of that sign: courage, loyalty, and a lifelong instinct to protect the people around him.

Robert’s life was the dojo and his Highwaymen Club brothers. For decades he trained and taught at his dojo, Ultimate Judo and Karate, where generations knew him simply as Sensei Robert. Judo was his foundation; karate, his constant practice; and daily training, his discipline. He taught more than throws and kata — he taught bowing in with respect, working with purpose, lifting the person next to you, and bowing out with gratitude. His students carry his voice in their stance and his steadiness in their lives.

As an instructor he never turned anyone away. If a student didn’t have the money, he would wave it off with a simple smile and say, “Don’t let that stop you from training — come on, hell yeah.”  The kids he guided — the ones he pushed, encouraged, and believed in — will never be forgotten.

He was endlessly inspirational and had an incredible amount of energy.  “No” was not in Bobby’s vocabulary.

He loved deeply and lived fully. Bobby treasured his Highwaymen Club brothers; that bond meant the world to him. He loved to ride — the freedom of his motorcycle, the road, the wind, and the brotherhood that came with it. Riding wasn’t just a hobby; it was part of who he was.

At home he lived the same code.  Any time you reached out to Bobby, he listened without judgment.  He would always say, “Go ahead, I’m listening.”  

He was always late for dinner, but would walk in with a big smile and his famous, “Where are the meatballs? Hell yeah!”

Robert is remembered by his son, Nick Noble; his sisters Sheri, Diana, Karen, and Kathy; his brothers Jim and Steven; and by many nieces, nephews, cousins, fellow instructors, and students from Ultimate Judo and Karate. He was preceded in death by his parents, Robert and Elizabeth; his sister, Carla Jo; his son, Mikie; and his nephew, Bobby T.