Rev. John S. Noftle Jr.

WINCHENDON – Rev. John S. Noftle Jr., 84, of 25 Eagle Road, Winchendon, formerly of Londondery, NH, died peacefully Tuesday morning, October 25th in Kindred Hospital in Leicester, MA, with his family at his side.

He was born in Malden, MA on January 22, 1927, the son of the late John S. and Sophie (Butt) Noftle.  John graduated from Eastern Nazarene Academy in Quincy, MA, received his Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Theology degrees from Eastern Nazarene College in Quincy, his Master of Education degree from Keene State College in Keene, NH and also studied at Northeastern and Harvard Universities.

Rev Noftle spent nearly 44 years of pastoral ministry in Massachusetts, Maine and New Hampshire.  He was New England District Secretary for 15 years with the Church of the Nazarene and was on the Board of Ministerial Studies and Credentials for the New England District.  He began churches in Milford, MA and Manchester, NH and performed radio ministries in Keene, NH and in Augusta and Millinocket, Maine.

Rev. Noftle wrote Herald of Holiness articles on “Being a Whole Person and wrote “Come Ye Apart” devotional articles, articles on Mental Health and Religion for the Keene Sentinel, Woonsocket Call, Millinocket News and Derry News.  He also wrote “Striding Along” articles in the Derry News for 3 years.

Rev. Noftle was an avid runner and marathoner.  He competed in 48 marathons and finished the Boston Marathon 30 times.  In New Hampshire he was the oldest runner each year.  He held the course record at Cape Cod Marathon for the over 60 category.  Known in local newspapers as “The Running Reverend”, he was a founding member of the  Greater Derry Track Club and was its President for  the first 5 years.  He also served on the Board of Directors and was Chairman of Hall of Fame Committee of the NE 65 Plus Running Club.

Rev. Noftle was a United States Navy veteran of World War Two.  He taught at Gill Elementary School in Gill, MA for 3 years and was Teacher and Principal of the Goshen-Lempster Cooperative School in Lempster, MA.  He was a volunteer counselor for the MA Dept of Mental Health in Whitinsville, MA and had been a Psychiatric Social Worker for the State of Maine, Pineland Hospital.  He was a founder of Linwood Senior Organization in Malden, MA, serving as its President for 7 years.  Rev Noftle also drove a school bus for 15 years in Londonderry, NH.

He leaves his wife of 59 years, Mildred O. (Gates) Noftle; three children, Deborah Scortico and her husband Robert of Winchendon, James Noftle of Azusa, CA and Stephen Noftle and his wife Linda of Fort Edward, NY; five grandchildren, Kelli Anne, Jared, Joshua Jon, Joshua Stephen and Benjamin and two great grandchildren, Madison and Logan and a sister, Ruth Jordan of Hanover, MA.

Funeral services will be held Monday, October 31st at 11:30 AM in Stone-Ladeau Funeral Home, 343 Central Street, Winchendon.  A calling hour from 10:30 to 11:30 AM will precede the funeral.  Burial, with military honors, will be in the Masssachusetts Veterans’ Memorial Cemetery, Winchendon.

Memorial donations may be made to Global Treasury Services, Church of the Nazarene, P.O. Box 843116, Kansas City, MO 64184-3116
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www.stone-ladeau.com

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