A gentleman and a scholar. A musician and a builder. A husband and father, brother, son, father-in-law, and granddad. A deacon and professor, a friend and counselor. Irascible, obstinate, learned, talented, brilliant, strict, funny, loving, impatient, God-fearing. Walter Gaylord Scott, who passed away in his sleep on January 25, 2024 was all of these things and more. A graveside service will be 10:30 a.m. Monday, January 29, 2024 in the Fairlawn Cemetery. Strode Funeral Home and Cremation is in charge of the arrangements.


Walter loved baseball and pumpkin pie and walks around his neighborhood. He loved the Pokes even though they often disappointed him on the fields of play. He loved his books and playing chess, organ music and travel and woodworking. He loved logic and puzzles and singing in his church choir. He built a workshop when he retired, and then taught himself how to make stained glass.

He drove a Nash Metropolitan for years and was a capable shade tree mechanic, ordering parts from Chicago or sometimes manufacturing his own to keep the car running. He was a Renaissance man, a complicated man, and a man who influenced generations of students at Oklahoma State University as well as generations of members of his church family and, of course, his daughters, son-in-law, and grandson.


Walter taught in the Philosophy Department at Oklahoma State University for almost forty years, particularly enjoying teaching the Philosophy of Religion course and the Logic course. His scholarly interests centered on medieval philosophy, with his 475-page dissertation (every word and footnote typed by his beloved wife Doris) focusing on Ockham's Second Theorem.


He was forever loyal and true to OSU, attending baseball and football games, listening to sports on the radio, fussing at the Pokes in his bass voice when they fumbled or made an error or missed a lay-up. Walter had two degrees from Baylor University, where he met the love of his life, Doris Jane (Jones) Scott. (Brainy young cowboy from El Paso in West Texas meets vivacious, charming girl from Palestine in East Texas, and they live happily ever after.) He also had two degrees from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, and earned a doctorate from The Johns Hopkins University (thanks to that 475-page dissertation).


Walter and Doris were married in July 1950 and lived and loved together until her passing in 2017. They raised two daughters, Lori Jane (Scott) Robertson and Gaye Lynn Scott, who between them reflect the best along with the most frustrating parts of each parent. Lori married Glenn Robertson in 1976 and they have one son, Walter's adored grandson Joel Scott Robertson, who thinks of his granddad as "some kind of wizard".


Walter was a member of First Baptist Church in Stillwater for over 60 years. He taught Sunday School for 50 of those years, and sang in the church choir for most of those 60-plus years until ill health forced him to quit attending church. He was a deacon, deacon chair, committee chair, and helped found the FBC Foundation. He ran the sound board for several years, sang solos often, occasionally preached or led the singing, and regularly served as narrator or the "voice of God" in church productions.


His love of God was evident in his love of FBC, through good times and bad. Walter's 95 years on this planet were defined by his integrity, deep beliefs, intellect, innate stubbornness, commitment to education, dry sense of humor, love of family, and devotion to his church.


Special thanks go out to those who have cared for Walter in recent years: the Visiting Angels caregivers when he was still in his home, the young women and men in the memory care unit at Legacy Village in the last year, and the dedicated staff of Karman Hospice in his last months.


Most especially, Walter's daughters want to thank Robert and Deanita Sitton for their loving, kindness, compassion, patience, wisdom, and broad array of skills, all of which helped make Walter's last years better, and took a tremendous load off his daughters. Robert and Deanita were there whenever we called, and we are in their debt.


Memorial gifts may be made to the Stillwater First Baptist Church Foundation, the Alzheimer's Association, the OSU Foundation, or to the charity of your choice.