Col. Jenice Noble Longfield, MD, MPH, died March 31, 2026, after a decade-long battle with Alzheimer’s disease.
She was born on Oct. 22, 1947, in Noblesville, Indiana, to Max and Mary Noble.
An exceptional student, Jenice was the first in her family to attend and graduate from college. She received the Phi Sigma Award for Outstanding Undergraduate in Biological Studies at the University of New Mexico, where she earned her Bachelor of Science.
She was one of 10 women in the 1973 medical school class at the University of Colorado, where she re-encountered another UNM alum, Robert North Longfield. They were married after a nine-day engagement.
Jenice completed her medical internship at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston. She served refugees on the island of Guam and had her first son there. At Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, Maryland, she obtained her master’s degree in public health, along with completing her residency and fellowship in preventive medicine. Her second and third sons were born in Maryland.
Jenice served for over 20 years in the U.S. Army Medical Corps before retiring as colonel. During her service, she was named Chief of Clinical Investigations at Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio.
After her military retirement, she worked for the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, as vice president for research operations.
With nearly two dozen peer-reviewed publications, Jenice contributed to expanding medical knowledge and improving patient safety. Her colleagues valued her professional knowledge, critical thinking and analysis, and her kindness. Whether reviewing research procedures or buying holiday gifts for her staff, she showed true dedication in all she did.
Jenice led by example in her community as well. A longtime member of the Christian Church, including over 40 years at Castle Hills Christian Church in San Antonio, Jenice taught Sunday School and often prepared the Sunday communion. She and Robert hosted a church small group in their home and lived alongside neighbors who became true friends.
She was known for her wit, humor and love of a good mystery novel. She regaled the family with stories of her sons’ shenanigans. Even when those tales poked fun at her own cautious nature, she found joy and connection in sharing family lore. Her grandchildren were her great joy later in life.
Jenice was preceded in death by her brother Armin, and sister Lorraine.
She is survived by her husband of 55 years, Robert; son Daniel, son Colin, daughter-in-law Chandra, son Evan, and daughter-inlaw Amy; grandchildren Noah, Liam, Ewan and Katherine; sister, Elaine Lyons, and sister-in-law, Lynn Longfield; and many nieces and nephews.
Memorial services will be held at Sneed-Carnley Funeral Chapel in Lampasas on April 11, with receiving at 10:30 a.m. and the service at 11 a.m. Burial will follow at School Creek Cemetery, with a reception at Mama Bob’s Longfield Family Ranch at 1:30 p.m.
