Abraham "Sonny" Sobel

Abraham I. “Sonny” Sobel of Kingsport, passed away on Wednesday, April 24, 2024. Born and raised in Kingsport, TN, he was the son of Harry and Louise Sobel, affectionately called Sonny his entire life. Sonny was a Dobyns-Bennett High School graduate where he served as a class Treasurer his Senior Year and was President of Key Club. He went onto Vanderbilt University where he was a History major and graduated Cum Laude. From there he went to the University of Virginia School of Medicine where he was in a class of 67 future medical doctors and went on to Wake Forest University Bowman Gray School of Medicine for his internship. It was in Winston Salem where he met his future wife, Martha Sue Davis. After they were married, he served in the US Army Medical Corp as a Captain in Korea and at Fort Lewis, Washington. After leaving his Army service, he began a 4 ½ -year residency at Duke University Medical School  in Obstetrics and Gynecology. When determining where to set up his private practice, Sonny came home to Kingsport joining the practice of Dr. RC Christianson where he was in practice for many years and delivered over 100’s of babies. After retirement, he continued to offer medical support to Kingsport residents by working with Friends in Need. 

Sonny is survived by his wife of 63 years, Martha Sue Sobel; his daughter, Martha Leigh Sobel of Winston-Salem, NC; his son, Gordon Davis Sobel, of Hilton Head, SC; his grandson, Eli Davis Sobel of Bluffton, SC. In addition, there are numerous extended family members that will continue to cherish his memory. 

A graveside service was held Thursday, May 2, 2024 at 1:00pm, at the Atlantic Community Cemetery in Atlantic, NC. 

A Celebration of Life reception will be held from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Friday, June 21, 2024, at Allandale Mansion.  From scrubs to spats and anything in between is acceptable attire.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Friends in Need, friendsinneed.us or 1916 Brookside Drive, Kingsport Tennessee 37660, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, stjude.org; or any non-profit that is meaningful to you.