Stanford M. Noel M.D.

1934 - 2022

December 16, 1934 - September 2, 2022 Stanford M. Noel, M.D., 87-year-old retired orthopedic surgeon of Los Angeles, California, died September 2, 2022, following a long illness. Dr. Noel was a well known and respected surgeon who practiced for over 50 years in Los Angeles, California, specializing in the treatment of hip disorders in both children and adults.
He was born December 16, 1934, in Sherman, Texas, the son of Jewell H. and Oscar H. Noel. He attended Rice University as an undergraduate and the University of Texas, Galveston, for medical school. He served as captain in the U.S. Army Medical Corps in Korea, functioning as a general surgeon. Following discharge he went to Stockton, California, where he practiced general surgery for two years. He decided orthopedics was his calling, and went to Harbor General Hospital for one year of research. He was then accepted in a three-year orthopedic residency at Orthopedic Hospital, L.A., followed by a three-year fellowship specializing in hip disorders.
He formed a partnership with Dr. William Craig, treating private patients with orthopedic problems, with a focus on the hips of both children and adults. Together they headed a hip clinic at Orthopedic Hospital for underprivileged children with a variety of hip disorders.
After Dr. Craig's retirement, Dr. Noel continued the children's hip clinic and a private practice, which included many referrals from physicians and patients for the treatment of challenging and complex hip disorders. He had compassion with his patients and their families. They trusted him. He was rightfully proud of his work, and especially with the clinic children.
In the winter of 1969 he was one of the first of orthopedic surgeons to go to England to study with Dr. John Charley, the originator of total hip replacements. Later, Dr. Noel designed his own total hip prosthesis for special patient situations
Dr. Noel was president of the medical staff at Orthopedic Hospital for three terms and involved in a teaching program for residents at Orthopedic Hospital. He was a member of the National Hip Society. He was selected as one of two in the state of California for a three-year term as lobbyist of Congress in Washington representing the National Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons.
His hobbies included golf, fly-fishing at the family cottage in Canada, and research in depth on a variety of topics. He was extremely well-read and one could always look to Stanford for accurate information. He enjoyed lively intellectual discussions.
Dr. Stanford Noel will be missed greatly by his family, friends, colleagues and patients. He was predeceased by his parents, Oscar and Jewell Noel, and survived by his wife, Marcia Clark Noel, brother Harold Noel and wife Melinda, and sister Margie Noel, brother-in-law Dr. Robert Clark and wife Sherry, and beloved nephews Jeffrey and David Clark, and cousins Willies Ballou and wife, Cathye.
Visitation will be at the Waldo Funeral Home in Sherman, Texas: Monday Sept. 12th 6-8 p.m.
Private burial will take place at the West Hills Cemetery, in Sherman, Texas.