John Billy was born at the “Homeplace” in the Iron Hill Community, the fifth of six children born to Shirley B. and Olivia Jane Myatt Noland. He attended school for grades 1-7 in Nails Creek School, a one-room school to which he and his siblings walked daily. In grade 8, he attended Burns Elementary School. He graduated at age 16 from Dickson High School in the 1942 Class, where he lettered in football. Through his remaining life, he continued to support high school football and was a season ticket holder for Dickson Dragon and Dickson County Cougar Football for as long as he was physically able to attend.
John B. served in the U. S. Army during the Korean War from 1951 until 1953. In 1951, he bought the “Homeplace” and married Loretta Powell (Noland) where they worked and farmed and reared their family. He was among the first farmers in Dickson County to implement no-till farming. A second-generation owner, his farm achieved Century Farm status in 2017. Loretta preceded him in death in 2015. In addition to his farming activities, John B. worked for more than 30 years as a mail carrier for the U.S.P.S. He was a Director of the Farm Bureau for 40 + years, a Supervisor of the Dickson Soil Conservation District, a board member of Dickson Farmer’s CO-OP, and an active member of Burns United Methodist Church for more than 60 years. A man of integrity, he was known by family, friends and business acquaintances as an honest-dealing businessman and a humble servant of God. John was preceded in death by his brother, Warren Noland, and his sisters, Dr. Winona N. Brooks, Oma Noland Vaughn, and Fay N. McBroom.
Survivors include four sons, John M. Noland (Michelle), Houston, TX; Thomas P. Noland (Denise),Arlington, VA; Benny S. Noland, Dickson; Don Noland (Kimberly), Leopold, IN; a daughter, Vickie N. Stevens, Dickson; one sister, Irma N. Cotton, Santa Fe, TN; eleven grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; several nieces, nephews, and cousins.
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