Noel Wilson was born to Ruben and Harriett Wilson, pastors of the Assemblies of God Church in Weed, California. He was the fifth in a family of four boys and two girls—five of which are ordained ministers in Assemblies of God. His growing up years were in the Northern California towns of Alameda and Roseville. During his schooling, he was active in music and athletics.

He graduated from Bethany Bible College in Santa Cruz, and began his ministry in Berkeley where he also attended the University of California. A year later he married Ruth Marshall of La Crescenta, a classmate at Bethany. He was ordained by the Assemblies of God in 1961. He later served as Minister of Youth and Music in Vallejo and Redwood City. During his years in the San Francisco Bay Area he served as arranger and conductor for the Sacred Concert Society.

In 1967, he joined the faculty at Bethany Bible College and chaired the Music Department until 1975. He directed “The Ambassadors,” a choral and instrumental ensemble that toured the western states for the college.

Southern California College (now Vanguard University) of Costa Mesa called Noel to chair the music department in 1975. During his years at SCC he directed the Vanguard Singers and Orchestra with tours throughout the western United States and Canada. The ensemble was invited to make concert tours by the Assemblies of God of Japan in 1987 and 1990. In 1993, they toured the islands of Tahiti, New Zealand, Fiji, and Hawaii.

While at SCC, he served for seven years as Music Minister at the Newport-Mesa Christian Center. He also pursued a PhD in Music at Claremont Graduate College.

San Diego’s First Assembly called Noel to be their Minister of Music in 1997. During his seven years, he directed yearly Christmas and Easter musicals, as well as a number of Sacred Music Concerts.

Noel retired at the end of 2003 and moved to Laguna Woods Village (formerly Leisure World). In 2007, his wife Ruth of 47 years passed away.

Noel produced and directed numerous recordings during his teaching years. He and Ruth composed “Luke’s Christmas,” a Christmas Musical published by the Gospel Publishing House. He composed and conducted a score for the missions film—“What If God Should Call Me” for the AG Missions Department. Two books of choral arrangements have been published by GPH as well.

In 2008, he married Lynora Weaver, an Interior Designer. They are enjoying life in the Village and being a part of the Village Church at
Laguna Woods Village.

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