Truly David Nolen

Truly David Nolen passed away on Tuesday, April 18, 2017 at 89 years of age peacefully in his home in Naples, Florida. He is survived by his wife of 32 years, Vickie Taylor Nolen. He is also survived by his eight children – Truly William Nolen, Steven Scott Nolen, Bonnie Sue Nolen Jauregui, Really Philip Nolen, Michelle Nolen Senner, Sincere Leigh Nolen, Scarlett Sahara Nolen Jallad and True Spyder Luke Nolen – 12 grandchildren and 7 great grandchildren.

Truly David Nolen is best known for his successful and vibrant companies – Truly Nolen of America (based in Tucson, AZ) and Truly Nolen International (based in Orlando, FL) – and their fleet of yellow “mouse cars” and antique vehicles. Today there are over 320 Truly Nolen offices in 63 countries. Much of Truly’s personal and professional life and lessons he learned were memorialized in his 2005 autobiography, Truly Original.

His great friend and colleague Norm Ehmann wrote the following of Truly, “Truly Nolen is a giant among men. Polio confined him to an iron lung from which there was no escape. He escaped. They told him he would never walk again. He not only walks, but he takes great pleasure in flying his own airplane. His ideas of growing a business didn’t match his father’s style so he traveled 3000 miles west and started his own business, which is now one of the largest privately owned pest control companies in the United States with franchises around the world.”

Truly’s “rules to live by” were, “Find humor in everything, even adversity. Stay positive and persistent to the extreme. Work hard, play hard. Do what you want to, not just to make money. Don’t be afraid to be different – take a chance!” Truly had a famous sense of humor, often quoting movies by Mel Brooks or his favorite Airplane!

Truly had many tremendous professional accomplishments and earned many awards throughout his lifetime. His favorite times were often spent on a boat, piloting a plane or behind the wheel of a beautiful car. A photo of him at 16 and his small sail boat was published in the Baltimore Sun newspaper in 1944 after he navigated his way from Miami Beach to Annapolis, Maryland. He married his wife Vickie on his favorite sailboat, the Ticonderoga. He could always find a reason to fly or sail.

Services will be Friday, April 21st at Temple Shalom in Naples, Florida at 10AM.

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