Jack of all trades, and a seeker of peace.

For those who like riddles, here’s one some of you might guess: “Which of our members is 99 years old, has a degree in theology, lives in the hospital, and attends the Turlock Methodist Church services regularly?”
The answer is “Pat Noda,” but the delight is in the details, and here they are:

“Life begins for the Noda family when Mother and Dad left Japan,” states Pat, in his Noda Family History, which he wrote for his 98th birthday party in 2018. “Mother wanted to learn English, so she got a job housekeeping for an English professor in West Virginia. She did such a good job that the professor’s family would send books for Christmas to every one of the kids.”

Pat’s father worked for the railroad, as foreman. “About 1905, father and mother were married. After a few odd jobs,” the family rented 40 acres in Livingston, California, about ten miles south of Turlock. “Mother and Dad had too many kids for their income.” With nine children, Pat’s parents were lucky to meet the Dykes, who let them rent ten more acres , on which they could supplement their income by growing strawberries and walnuts. ”We irrigated this land,” and with the charitable help of the Dykes, who owned the land, the large Noda family thrived. Without the help from the Dykes, “it would have been a lot harder.” The family farmed until WWII, with the government’s internment of Japanese-Americans.
In addition, Pat’s father got together with some friends to start a trucking business.
Pat’s sister went to Armstrong Business School to help direct the business, especially after Pat’s father became disabled in a severe car accident. “My dad was pretty Americanized compared to most Orientals. He named me after Patrick Henry!”
Pat remembers the influence of the Livingston neighbors fondly. “The influences on our life were many. The neighbors included many different [ethnic] groups. The B.G. Wolf’s were the first to come, the father from Switzerland, the mother from Canada. The Escolas, who sold milk, were originally from Finland. Dick and Betty now attend our church and are friends with Pat.

With the forced internment of Japanese-American families at the beginning of the war, Pat said, “We went to Merced, then to Colorado, near Colorado Springs.” The family rented the farm “I had it easier than some of my sisters. My sister had some people who were antagonistic in Colorado. I didn’t run into anything like that.” After that, “it was a hop, skip and a jump all over” for the family.
From the internment camp, Pat went to Central College and attained teaching credentials for Minnesota and Iowa. “I tried to teach junior high and high school kids in Iowa and Minnesota. I had too many problems, so then I tried the ministry.”
Pat graduated from McCormick, an important Presbyterian seminary in Chicago. However, much of Pat’s work over the years has been in produce, including work at the flea market in Turlock. “Mother got a librarian, a teacher of medical students, and a jack of all trades,” quipped Pat about himself.
As to health and environmentalism Pat has led an exemplary life. For years, he could be seen riding his bicycle all over town. Pat said he would go to the church dinners and “refuse to eat sweets and grease,” saying he would “eat more at home.” When he got home, he said, “I would forget. So, quite a few Sundays, I was short on food.” This caught up with him several years ago. He took a tumble on his bike, hit his head on the concrete, and landed in the hospital for a year. He is still in assisted living, at Turlock Rehabilitation Center, but attends our church regularly.
Through the years, Pat has been involved with the Modesto Peace Life Center.
“They are active in peace work. When Martin Luther King came to town, they supported him. The N.A.C.C.P. on the Westside had a meeting for him, and King spoke at Modesto Junior College twice,” said Pat.
On the subject of faith, Pat observed, “I had a friend who was an atheist. I think he became an atheist because his father taught Sunday school. There was no pursuit of truth, so my friend became an atheist.” Pat believes the upcoming Presidential election is most important. On life in general, Pat remarked, “Everybody has problems. The secret to life is overcoming problems, and enjoying to do this!”