Walter Williams Scott, 85, passed away on Saturday, December 9, 2023 while hosting a family dinner at home with daughter, Mary Wingfield Scott and her partner Rusty Cadaret. Four grandchildren, Grace Vaughan Scott of Frederick, Robert Hargroves Walters (Alicia), Walter Williams Scott III (Molly) of Chicago, and Leah Royster Scott of St. Simons Island, survive him.
Born in Richmond on March 6, 1938, to Alice Williams and James Hamilton Scott, Walter was the youngest of four. His brother, James H. Scott Jr. of Charlottesville and sister, Alice Nalle of Philadelphia, preceded him in death. His sister, Polly Cardozo, survives him, along with numerous Williams and Scott family cousins.
Walter lived by the Boy Scout motto, “Be Prepared.” Given a half-hour’s notice, he could turn up for a duck hunt, grocery run, or white-tie affair, equipped for the occasion, whether with chain saw, trailer, coupon, or corsage.
A two-time UVA graduate, he earned a BA in Economics and an MBA. He married Vaughan Hargroves Scott, his high-school sweetheart, while still in graduate school and they had three children, Walter Williams Scott Jr., John Wingfield Scott, and Mary Wingfield Scott.
During and after his career at First and Merchants Bank, Walter devoted his time to community service. For 50 years, he served Boy Scouts Troop 400 as Treasurer, managed Hubs peanut sales, and shopped for and cooked countless meals on Scout hikes. In 2001, the Boy Scouts of America awarded him the Silver Beaver Award, their highest honor for volunteer service. Equally enduring was his service to St. Paul’s Church, where he and Vaughan chaired the Lenten Luncheon Series for several years until her passing in 2007. Walter and Vaughan lost their son John in 2002, and their eldest son Walter passed away in 2019.
An avid outdoor sportsman, Walter was a longtime member of Custis Fishing and Hunting Club. He also served the vestry of St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, Chippokes Plantation Farm Foundation, Richmond Community High School, and the Virginia State College Foundation. As a member of the Gloucester Banks Association, he was a dedicated board member, grounds manager, crab picker, bicycle visitor, zinnia grower, and consummate host. Whether in Richmond or at Gloucester Banks, dinners with “Grumpus” were always memorable, and invariably concluded with discussion of the next meal.
A memorial service to celebrate Walter’s life was held at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Richmond on Wednesday, December 20 at 4 p.m. Those who wish to honor his memory may consider a donation to Boy Scouts Troop 400, Community Foundation for a Greater Richmond, or a charitable organization of your choice.