Bob Scott

(From White Funeral Home)

Robert C. Scott Jr. (Uncle Bob) was born in Austin, Texas in 1952 to Robert C. Scott Sr and Meta Schmitt. Of Scotch and German stock, Bob loved Ray Wylie Hubbard and abhorred the idea that barbecue needs sauce - in other words, he was a full-blooded Texan. 

Maybe it was his born nature or maybe he learned it from the heroes in the Westerns of his childhood, but several character traits came to him early and stayed with him for life. He was incapable of telling a lie, which combined with a sharp wit and an inability to hold his tongue, could often cause either hot tempers or great laughter - often both in like order. 

Similarly, he had a wild side that needed occasional release; a little too occasionally when he became of military service age. His father, a detective for the Austin City Police Department, became aware of his son’s mostly harmless legal discrepancies (but discrepancies nonetheless) and gave him the ultimatum, “Shape up or ship out”. And Bob, not being able to tell a lie said, “O.K. I’ll ship out”. And so, Bob joined the Navy where he served six years mostly aboard the aircraft carrier, the USS Constellation. 

Of course, during this military service, he also ‘shaped up (for the most part). Bob, proudly served in the United States Navy from 1972 to 1978. His six years of service included more than four years at sea aboard the USS Constellation (CV-64), where he served as Ships Inertial Navigation Work Center Supervisor. This role reflected his exceptional technical ability, quiet leadership, and steadfast dedication to duty. 

His military service earned him the National Defense Service Medal and the Good Conduct Award. He was also proud to have been initiated as a “Shellback” after crossing the Equator and welcomed into the “Domain of the Golden Dragon” after crossing the 180th meridian. Bob carried great pride in his Navy years and remained an active member of Madeira Beach American Legion Post 273. Honoring his final wish, he will be buried at sea. 

After leaving the Navy, Bob continued to build a career rooted in technical expertise and service to others. He worked for several years as a software trainer for medical systems and later spent six years with Bendix Field Engineering Corporation as a highly respected Navigation Aids Technician in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, supporting the Presidency of Civil Aviation. This ‘shaping up gave him an education in electronics and an introduction into computing, two skills that would keep him employed for the rest of his life. 

After retiring from a career in advanced electronics in the US Navy, Saudi Arabia, Los Angeles, Fort Wayne, and Kansas City, Bob left urban life and moved to rural McDonald County where he proudly proclaimed the title of his new estate, Uncle Bob’s Do-Nothing Ranch. For once, perhaps, he told a lie because he did far from nothing there. He would gladly volunteer to provide a celebration or holiday table with the finest smoked meat there ever was. He would also gladly volunteer to fix any electric guitar in need of service - a willingness that kept his workbench surprisingly busy. 

He was also kept busy feeding the wildlife that frequented his deck; Opossums, racoons, birds, all were welcome except gray squirrels - they were a nuisance to be assailed (a deserved or undeserved prejudice he shared with his mother). Aside from fixing guitars, Bob was an accomplished builder of electric guitars and an avid ‘Rock-n-Roller’. Off the Do-Nothing Ranch, Bob enjoyed scuba diving, fishing, skeet shooting, and bird hunting. Both on and off the Do-Nothing Ranch Bob enjoyed Jack Daniels (perhaps the greatest assault to his sense of order was that it was not made in Texas).

Uncle Bob passed away on April 21, 2026. He was a gift to this world, and we are grateful for him. Uncle Bob is survived by his sister, Beverly Wardlaw; By his nephews, Caleb, Ben and Joshua Wardlaw; By his niece-in-laws Alisen Payette, Elizabeth Wardlaw and Lauren Wardlaw; By his great nieces, Birdie, Ruthie, and Dahlia Wardlaw; By his great nephews, Huxley, Grayson, and Roland Wardlaw, and lifelong dear friend and military comrade of 53 years Gregory K Flowers and his wife Brenda. He is also survived by his big, orange cat, Tater.

Arrangements are under the direction of White Funeral Home and Crematory.