In memory of Dr. George W. Zobrist, Ph.D, 02/13/1934 – 02/02/2025
View George’s memorial website here
Dr. George W. Zobrist, Ph.D.
February 13th, 1934 – February 2nd, 2025
George passed away peacefully on February 2nd, less than two weeks from his 91st birthday. He was at his new home in Sikeston, MO surrounded by family. He was born in Highland, IL and grew up on Pestalozzi St. in St. Louis with his parents, George and Lily Zobrist. He attended Roosevelt High School and was inducted in the school’s Hall of Fame in 2009.
After graduation, George entered the United States Air Force where he went thru Radar Bombsight School and served with the B-47 outfit at MacDill AFB in Tampa, Fl. He also served on tours in England and Morocco where he worked on the flight line as a bombsite mechanic during the Korean War.
While he was stationed at MacDill he met Freida (Fredi) Rich. Upon his return from Morocco in 1955, they married at the Bethany Baptist church in Florida. They were able to celebrate 69 years of marriage together on March 29th, 2024. In addition, they were able to celebrate their 90th and 91st birthdays together in Branson, Mo in February 2024, one of their favorite places. After getting married, they moved to Columbia, MO to start their life together.
George attended the University of Missouri at Columbia, receiving a Bachelor of Science in Software Engineering degree in 1958. As an undergraduate, George also received the “Young Engineer of the Year” award. After graduating, they moved to Ridgecrest, CA where George worked for the U.S. Naval Ordnance Test Station. In 1959, they moved to Kansas where George attended the University of Wichita, obtaining a Master of Science in Software Engineering degree in 1961 while working at Boeing. They returned to Missouri where George then received his PhD in Electrical Engineering in 1965 while working as an Instructor and Professor. In 1969, George moved his family to Florida where he was a Professor of Electrical Engineering at the University of Miami and the University of South Florida in Tampa. In 1971, he worked as a visiting Research Scientist at the University of Edinburgh in Scotland, where the family lived for a year. In 1976, the family moved from Florida to Toledo, OH where he was Chairman of the Department of Electrical Engineering and then briefly worked as a Director at the engineering consulting firm of S.S.O.E. In 1982, George returned to Missouri as a Professor of Computer Science at the Graduate Center of the University of Missouri-Rolla in St. Louis, transferring to the Rolla campus in 1985 where he became Chairman of the Department of Computer Science. George retired from UMR as Professor Emeritus in 1999, although he continued to teach and consult part-time for many years.
Besides his career as a professor, George spent over 10 years as a consultant for NASA at the Kennedy Space Center where he worked on ground-based communications for the Skylab program. He was also a consultant at the Prestolite Corporation where he evaluated D.C. motors for the development of electric vehicles. In addition, he was a consultant for Oak Ridge National Laboratories in Tennessee, Boeing, IBM and the U.S. Defense Communications Agency.
George’s career took him around the world conducting seminars, workshops and tutorials in Brazil, Russia, South Africa, Yugoslavia, Turkey, Germany, Denmark, England, Scotland, Wales and Canada on the topics of Microprocessors, Software Engineering & Metrics and Computer Aided Design.
George was Editor-in Chief of several journals including IEEE and was the author, co-author and contributor to dozens of books and articles. He also served as a Commissioner for the Computer Science Accreditation Board. In his wide and varied experience as an author, consultant and educator, George received numerous commendations and awards in recognition of his contributions to science and technology throughout his career.
In addition to his career, George loved to hunt, fish, garden and drink beer. He was a member of the Rotary Club of Rolla, where he was a past president and active in charity work. He was also a member of the American Legion of Highland, IL and a member of the First Presbyterian Church of Rolla, where he had served as a Deacon. George will be most remembered as a loving husband, father and grandfather, great grandfather, cherishing spending time with his family.
George was preceded in death by his wife, Freida G. Zobrist nee Rich, parents George H. Zobrist and Lillian C. Zobrist nee Augustin, his infant daughter Christina A. Zobrist and his granddaughter Tori A. Zobrist.
He is survived by his children, daughter Barbara J. Zobrist of Los Angeles, California, son George W. Zobrist, of Fountain, Florida and daughter Jean (Tom) Morgan, of St. Louis, his grandchildren Jessica A. Forsythe of St. Peters, Kelly J. (Trey) Sloan of Sikeston, Thomas A. (Stephanie) Morgan of St. Peters and Timothy A. (Kristen) Morgan of St. Peters and her great grandchildren Jocelyn, Zoey, Zaiden, Harper, Clara, Wesley, Avery, Linley and Rori.
Visitation and services to be held at Spengler-Boulanger Funeral Home in Highland, Illinois February 22nd, 2025 at 11 a.m. He will be laid to rest at Highland City Cemetery next to his beloved wife Fredi. A reception at Diamond Mineral Springs, Grantfork, Illinois to follow.
Memorials may be made to the American Legion or the Rotary Club of Rolla.
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