CDR Robert (Bob) William Scott, USN(Ret.)

Robert (Bob) William Scott CDR, USN(Ret.) 1929 – 2018 Although born in Denver Colorado where he spent the first 20 years of his life, Bob considered Pensacola his true home town. In August of 1954, he met his future bride on Pensacola beach, near the old casino while training to be a naval aviator. After receiving his Navy Wings in Kingsville, Texas in September 1955, Bob returned to Pensacola and married Ruth Evelyn Smith, the daughter of Rufus and Bertie Smith, and since then have spent 63 years together. After 27 years of military service and growing a family - living in the Philippines, California, Michigan, Ohio, and Virginia - he and Ruth moved back to Ferry Pass Fl., to occupy the Smith family home. He spent the last years of his life residing in downtown Pensacola on the Bay, enjoying the boats, pelicans, and dolphins. To his last days, he was a devoted fan/season ticket holder of the Pensacola Blue Wahoos, attending many games at the nearby baseball stadium. During the first part of his naval career as an aviator, Bob was assigned to several aircraft squadrons in the Philippines and on the west coast. He flew a variety of aircraft, including the A6 Intruder at the end of his flight career, but the bulk of his flight time was spent as an A4 Skyhawk pilot, which included a 7-month pacific cruise aboard the aircraft carrier USS Shangri-La in the Attack Squadron VA-113 (the “Stingers”) A graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, MD, (class of ‘54) Bob later attended the U.S. Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey CA. and the University of Michigan where he received a Master’s degree in Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering. He used this degree while working as a Weapons Engineering Officer on the F-111 System Program in Dayton, Ohio. There he, along with a team of early computer specialists, developed/ran complex algorithms which showed that the new F-111 aircraft was not suitable for use on aircraft carriers – the F-111 was canceled by the Navy in 1968, though used by the Air Force. For this work, he was awarded the Air Force Commendation Medal. Among other assignments, Bob was also second in command at the Naval Air Rework Facility (NARF) in Norfolk, VA. After retiring from the Navy in 1980, Bob pursued a variety of endeavors. He obtained Commercial and Instructor Flight licenses and taught his two sons how to fly. He took classes in Theater and Stage Design at Old Dominion University in Norfolk, VA. Though mostly working on stage scenery design and construction, he also gave his family the delight of seeing him perform several minor roles onstage including that of a horse thief in “Shenandoah”; and a state representative in “1776”. He took the family on multiple ski expeditions to mountains in Virginia, New England, and Colorado. We will miss his smarts, his humor, and his charm. Bob was preceded in death by his parents, William Henry and Ruth Esther Scott of Cheyenne Wells and Denver, Colorado. He is survived by his beloved wife of 63 years Ruth Evelyn Scott (nee Smith); his eldest son Robert William Scott, Jr. (wife Kathy) and two grandsons Rob and David of Virginia Beach, VA ; and his youngest son Roger Ellis Scott (wife Julie) of Wakefield (Boston) MA. Prior to his death, Bob requested that the kindness and love shown to him by the following members of his wife’s family be acknowledged: Elsie Belle White of Milton, FL: Judy Bailey of Chattanooga, TN; Kenneth and Barbara Channell of Rockwell, TX; Greta Faye Carsten of Hay Market, VA; and Jim and Teri Sue Blake of Burke, VA. FAITH CHAPEL FUNERAL HOME SOUTH, 100 Beverly Parkway, is entrusted with the arrangements.

Tributes

CDR Robert (Bob) William Scott, USN(Ret.)

October 26, 1929 - March 27, 2018