"Nobby" Noblit passes away at 83
BY MARY LANCASTER
His eyes had a perpetual twinkle and his sincere and ready smile brought cheer to all he greeted. The community is mourning the passing last week of Charles Noblit, known affectionately as "Nobby," who died at 83 on Thursday, Jan. 4.

Charles "Nobby" Noblit, Naval officer, house painter and innkeeper will be missed.

"He seemed young for 83. We traveled all over this world - aren't we lucky we did that?" said his wife of 35 years, Dolly Noblit. "The best thing about him was he had a lot of patience. He was very easy going. We had a wonderful life. It couldn't have been any better."

Born and raised in Jersey Shore, Pa., Nobby joined the Navy in 1943 at the age of 18. He entered the service as a Seaman and retired as a Lieutenant Commander. When he moved to Nantucket in 1971 he opened his own painting business and fell in love with Dolly (Burgess), an island native who was then a widow.

Though they did not know at the time that they were meant to be together, Nobby and Dolly had met several years earlier in Japan where he and her first husband, Eugene Marcoux, both were stationed. The couple wed in 1971 in the parlor of the Nesbit Inn on Broad Street, passed were stationed. The couple wed in 1971 in the parlor of the Nesbit Inn on Broad Street, passed down from her family, which the Noblits ran until retiring three years ago. The business was turned over to Dolly's son, Steve Marcoux, and his wife Joanne.

In March of 2005, the couple received the Hospitality Award at the 18th Annual Massachusetts Governor's Conference of Travel and Tourism for exemplifying the true spirit of Massachusetts hospitality by providing outstanding service to visitors and the tourism industry over a significant period of time.

"He liked people and running the inn," said Dolly, who added that besides enjoying world travel Nobby was an avid and skilled bridge player.

One of Nobby's close friends on the island was Robert Mooney, who shared ties with him that go back a long time.

"Nobby was a good guy," said Mooney. "Charlie Noblit and I had the privilege of serving on the same ship at different times - the U.S.S. Lowry (DD770). Charlie was a very good officer who came up through the ranks and was very well liked. On the Lowry we referred to each other as shipmates forever. So that's the way it goes; we lost another good friend and a shipmate forever."

Mr. Noblit was predeceased by his eldest son, Charles Noblit, Jr., formerly of Utah. He is survived by a second son, Richard Noblit of Chapel Hill, N.C.; a sister, Anna Mae Snyder of New Jersey; his wife Dolly; his stepson Steve Marcoux; a grandson and one great-grandson.

Burial will be private at the National Cemetery in Bourne, Mass. A celebration of Mr. Noblit's life

will be held on Nantucket this summer. I