Rear Admiral William Marshall Zobel, Civil Engineer Corps, United States Navy (Retired), 95, died March 1, 2025. He was born in Charleston, SC on July 20, 1929, to the late Captain William A. Zobel and Ruth Marshall Zobel, both of Charleston. Bill Zobel graduated from Charleston High School in 1946 and attended The Citadel for two years with the Class of 1950. He went on to the United States Naval Academy and graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in 1952. He married Mary Keller Counts in 1953 and enjoyed her strong support for his entire career. After serving two years as a line officer at sea in the light cruiser USS WORCESTER, he transferred to the Navy’s Civil Engineer Corps (CEC). He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering from Renssalaer Polytechnic University, Troy, NY, in 1955. In addition, he received a Master of Science degree in Nuclear Physics in 1962 at the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, CA. He had a variety of assignments across the country with the Navy. His deployments to other parts of the world included the Mediterranean Sea, Guam, Okinawa, Antarctica (South Pole) and South Vietnam.
His commands included the Nuclear Power Unit in Ft Belvoir, VA; the 32nd Naval Construction Regiment in South Vietnam; the Naval Construction Battalion Center in Gulfport, MS; the Navy Public Works Center in Norfolk, VA; and Chief of the Navy’s Civil Engineer Corps as a two-star Admiral, the highest possible position in the Navy’s Civil Engineer Corps.
During his career he was awarded several medals and decorations which included the Distinguished Service Medal, the Defense Superior Service Medal and the Legion of Merit with Combat V.
Admiral Zobel retired from the Navy in 1984 after 32 years of service. He joined the Sverdrup Corporation, an International Engineering Company, as a Vice President, managing the Washington DC office.
In 1987, he and Mary returned to the place of his birth and settled into part-time-retired life in Charleston, SC. He changed his avocation of drawing and painting into a twenty-year professional career as an artist and part-owner of the Courtyard Art Gallery. Mary and Bill were very active in Charleston society; one highlight serving as President of the Country Club of Charleston.
To get close to their sons and their families, Mary and Bill moved in 2013 to the Westminster Canterbury Retirement Center, in Virginia Beach, VA. Admiral Zobel was predeceased by his wife of 68 years, Mary Keller Counts Zobel. He is survived by his three sons: Captain William C. (Skip) Zobel USN (Ret), David M. Zobel, Sr (Anne), James W. Zobel (Colleen), and seven grandchildren.
Memorials may be made to Grace Episcopal Church in Charleston or to the U.S. Naval Academy Alumni Association in Annapolis, MD.
A memorial service will be held in the Chapel of Westminster Canterbury at 1 p.m. on Friday, March 21, 2025. Burial with honors will be rendered at the United States Naval Academy Cemetery in Annapolis, MD on April 1st at 10:30am.