William Ernest Scott (affectionately known as "Scottie" most of his life) was born in Watertown, New York, on July 9, 1929. His parents were Myrtle and Ernest. He was the older brother to Louie and Beverly. He had a strong work ethic impressed upon him during his childhood on the family farm. When he was very young, his parents divorced and his mother moved to Wyoming. When Scottie was about 16 years old, she took him to an Army Recruitment Center and "adjusted" his birth year to 1928 so that he would be of age to enlist.  He was accepted, sworn in, and became an Army private. After basic training, he was given orders to the Panama Canal Zone for a 3-year tour of duty. He received the American Campaign World War II Victory Medal. Upon discharge from the Army, he remained in the Canal Zone and was employed by the U.S. Air Force/Department of Defense as a civilian employee.

For many years his responsibilities were as the Air Freight Supervisor and Loadmaster at Howard Air Force Base in the Canal Zone and from which he retired with 30 years of service. He was responsible for overseeing disaster relief emergency supplies to distribute to Central and South America during major earthquakes, floods, hurricanes and civil disturbances. Scottie was also diligent in seeking out fraud, waste and abuse in the government (before we had ever heard of D.O.G.E. doing that!) as part of his duties.

To his credit, he was able to overcome his often chaotic childhood and he found his niche in the Canal Zone, especially when he met Barbara Joyce Baron (who went by the nickname, Patsy) whom he pursued for months until she agreed to marry him.

They were married for 76 years. Into this union were born their amazing children: Kenneth Charles (wife, Diana), Pamela Ann Reid (husband, Jim), twins Glenda Marlene Ewell (husband, John), and Brenda Charlene Hummer (husband, Joe) and Joel Otis (wife, Robin). In addition to his five children and his loving wife, Scottie was blessed with fourteen grandchildren and twelve great-grandchildren.

Scottie always had a soft spot for anyone needing help (whether stranger or friend) and went out of his way to assist — it could be a stranded motorist on the highway or destitute Panamanians in dire circumstances.

Throughout his life, he was always fascinated by airplanes and pursued that interest by taking flying lessons at the local Panamanian airport where he earned his pilot's license. He used his love of flying to pilot small planes taking doctors and missionaries and supplies into remote areas of the Panama interior.

After retirement, he and Patsy enjoyed traveling across the USA in their RV with a group called Mobile Missionary Assistance Program. Over these 14 years, Scottie and Patsy used their skills and talents and love of volunteering and meeting new friends at sixty-two churches, Christian campgrounds, and conference centers where they would work 3-week stints at different locations several times a year.

Scottie maintained a quiet faith in the Lord Jesus as His personal Savior. He passed away due to complications of diabetes and vascular dementia, obtaining his wings and "flying" into the presence of the Lord on April 26, 2025, with his beloved family by his side during his last days while he was hospitalized. He will be given a military service and laid to rest at the Dallas/Fort Worth National Cemetery.

Dallas-Fort Worth National Cemetery

2000 Mountain Creek Pkwy

Dallas, TX

Friday, May 9, 2025

1:00 — 1:30pm

Condolences can be sent to:

Pat Scott

c/o Joel Scott

510 Aquamarine Dr

Oak Point, TX  75068

or

panamapatsy@gmail.com | 940-783-1421