Aug. 20, 1937: Grandfather Earns Bachelor's Degree

Listed in the names for bachelor of science in education in the Florence Times Daily for graduation from Alabama Polytechnic Institute

API to Confer Degrees Upon 135 on Friday

Article: http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=dAYsAAAAIBAJ&sjid=ELoEAAAAIBAJ&pg=833%2C1642800

Jan. 4, 1945: Grandfather Becomes First LT

From the Florence Times Daily:

Our Women and Men In Service

...

The war department today announced the temporary promotion of several officers, including: second lieutenant to first lieutenant, Florence, Ala -- William Owen Nixon Scott, AC, 506 North Poplar Street.

Article: http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=EPsrAAAAIBAJ&sjid=ILoEAAAAIBAJ&pg=819%2C215133

Dec. 24, 2006: Passing of WON Scott II (Grandfather)

The announcement of my gradfather's passing, which introduced some of the details of his past that had previously been only inklings of half memories for me. Published in The Advocate (UGA publication) on Dec. 27, 2006.

Scott II, William Owen Nixon 

William Owen Nixon Scott II passed away peacefully at home in Athens, Ga., on Sunday, Dec. 24, 2006, with his beloved wife, Virginia, at his side. 

He was a World War II veteran, a retired colonel in the U.S. Air Force Reserve and emeritus professor of educational psychology at the University of Georgia. Owen was a loving, gentle and kind husband and father. He was widely respected by his colleagues, students and acquaintances. 

Owen was born in Colorado Springs, Colo., on April 22, 1917, to Frank Kernochan Scott and Antoinette Siegfried Scott. He was a descendent of Gen. John Scott, a prominent settler of Georgia during the early 1800s and a founder of Montgomery, Ala. His great-grandfather Alfred Vernon Scott graduated from Franklin College, later renamed the University of Georgia, in 1821. He was named for his grandfather William Owen Nixon Scott, the youngest son of Alfred Vernon Scott. 

Owen grew up in Montgomery and graduated from Sidney Lanier High School. He later attended Marion Military Institute and Alabama Polytechnic Institute, now Auburn University. After graduation from Auburn, he taught high school mathematics for five years. When America entered World War II after Pearl Harbor, he was inducted into the U.S. Army, serving from June 1942 to May 1946. He graduated from Quartermaster Officer Candidate School and served in the U.S. Army Air Corps as a supply officer with the 383rd Air Services Group in the United States and India. Upon release from active duty in 1946, he served in the U.S. Air Force Reserve until his retirement as a colonel. 

After the war, Owen earned his master's degree and doctorate at George Peabody College, Nashville, Tenn. He took a position in 1951 on the faculty of the University of Georgia, where he taught until he retired with the rank of professor in 1983. While teaching at Coffee High School in Florence, Ala., he met the love of his life, Virginia Reeder, a home economics teacher at Coffee. 

On June 25, 2006, Owen and Virginia celebrated 65 years of happy marriage. He was an avid golfer, lifelong Civil War historian and a member of Kappa Sigma fraternity, Phi Delta Kappa, Kappa Delta Pi, University of Georgia Retired Faculty Association, the Retired Officers Association, Georgia Association of Educators and St. James Methodist Church. 

Owen is survived by his wife; three children, Anne Merry and husband Ed of Newport News, Va., Karen "Scottie" Jarrett and husband Steve of Covington, Ga., and Owen Scott III and wife Mary Lou of Baton Rouge. He is also survived by a grandson, Scott Merry; and five granddaughters, Natalie Merry Pathwick and husband Andrew, Larisa Baste, Virginia, Lauren and Maureen Scott. Additional survivors include his sister-in-law, Flora Scott; two nieces, Joan Lowe and Cynthia Hutchinson; and two grandnephews, Stephen and David Hutchinson. He was preceded in death by his parents and brother, Alfred Scott. 

A family graveside service will be held at Athens Memory Gardens, Athens, on Thursday, Dec. 28, at 11 a.m., with Rev. Ed Merry officiating. A memorial service for friends and acquaintances will be held at St. James United Methodist Church, Athens, on Thursday at 3 p.m., conducted by the Rev. Jerry Meredith. A reception will follow in the church fellowship hall. The family has requested that in lieu of flowers, memorial gifts be designated for the Eldercare Ministry at St. James United Methodist Church, 111 W. Lake Drive, Athens, GA 30606. Lord & Stephens Funeral Home East, Athens, is in charge of arrangements.

June 25, 1941: Scott-Reeder Wedding Announcement

My grandparents were married on June 25, 1941. This is the text of the announcement in the Florence Times that I found on top of my late grandfather's dresser in his bedroom. It is really what started my search/interest in collecting everything in one place. The photo of my grandmother hung above grandfather's dresser, and the one of the two of them was in grandmother's scrapbook that followed their first year of marriage.

Society News (The Florence Times)

Beautiful Church Ceremony Marks Wedding of Miss Virginia Reeder and Mr. Scott

Characterized by beauty and simplicity, the marriage of Miss Virginia Reeder, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. W. Brown Reeder, of this city, and William Owen Nixon Scott, of Montgomery and Florence, was solemnized on Wednesday at five o’clock in the afternoon. The impressive ceremony took place at the First Methodist church in the presence of a large assemblage of guests.

The altar was effectively decorated with graceful vines flanked by baskets holding white specimen gladioli, the central motif being a beautiful white trellis entwined with ivy. At intervals ivory cathedral tapers burned in seven-branch candelabras. The candles were lighted by Mrs Earl De Arman and Miss Elizabeth Simmons, who wore lovely dresses of blue striped marquisette over net. Their corsages were of talisman roses.

Prior to the entrance of the bridal party, an artistic program of nuptial music was presented by Robert Tomlinson, organist, and Mrs. Crawford Belser, vocalist. As the tapers were lighted Mr. Tomlinson played “Meditation” from Thais, and during the ceremony softly played Schubert’s “Serenade”. Mrs. Belser’s selections were “All For You” and “Because”. The wedding march from Lohengrin was used as the processional and Mendelssohn’s march as the recessional.

Attending the bride as matron of honor was her sister, Mrs. Roger Steverson of Sheffield, whose lovely frock was of pink marquisette over net, fashioned with puffed sleeves and a full shirt. The back was effectively trimmed with tiny velvet bows. Complimenting the dress was a matching halo hat of shirred marquisette. She carried a French bouquet of garden flowers. The bridesmaids, who included: Miss Edith Evelyn Rhodes, Miss Billie Simmons, Miss Wilo Mae Goddard of Haleyville, Alabama and Miss Caroline Bennet of Butler, Alabama, were dressed alike in blue marquisette over net made similar to that of the matron-of-honor. All carried French bouquets of garden flowers and wore halo hats. The adorable little flower girls, Gethryn and Gayle Steverson, daughters of Mr. and Mrs. Roger Steverson, wore ankle length dresses of pink and blue marquisette. They carried French bouquets.

The bride, given in marriage by her father, was never lovelier than on this occasion when she was gowned in a classic model of white ninon over net, beautifully embroidered with seed pearls, made en train with flowing sleeves. The finger tip veil was caught to the hair with seed pearls, cap-effect. The shower bouquet was of brides roses and lilies of the valley.

Frank K. Scott, father of the groom, served Mr. Scott as best man, while the ushers were: Floyd McClure, Jack Scarbrough, Hershel West, and Alfred Scott.

The ceremony was read by Dr. M. E. Lazenby, pastor of the church. Mrs. Reeder, mother of the bride, wore an afternoon dress of poudre blue eyelet embroidered chiffon with white accessories and a corsage of white roses.

Mrs. Scott, mother of the groom, was charming in white jersey. Her corsage was of gardenias.

Immediately following the ceremony Mr. and Mrs. Scott left for their wedding trip to Mobile, Biloxi, and other points of interest in the South.

For traveling the latter wore a natural color linen frock, trimmed with cross-stitching, with matching accessories.

Mrs. Scott received her B. S. degree in home economics at the Alabama College for Women at Motevallo in 1938. While there she was president of the home economics club and vice-president of Omicron Nu, honorary sorority.

Mr. Scott graduated from Sidney Lanier High school in Montgomery in 1933 and attended Marion Institute. He received his B. S. degree in Education in 1937 from the Alabama Polytechnic Institute at Auburn. He is a member of Kappa Sigma fraternity and Kappa Delta Phi honorary educational fraternity.

For the past two years he has resided here and has been a member of the faculty at Coffee High school.

Out-of-town guests present for the wedding were Mr. and Mrs. Frank K. Scott, Mrs. Thomas E. Martin of Montgomery, Alabama, Mr. and Mrs. Marvin Reeder and Jane Reeder of Morris Town, Tenn., Mrs. Evans R. Sherill of Lewisville, Texas and Mr. and Mrs. Jimmy Williams of Decatur, Ala.

After Rehearsal Party for Miss Reeder And Mr. Scott

Entertaining at her home in Sheffield, Mrs. Roger Steverson was hostess Tuesday evening at a lovely party for Miss Virginia Reeder and Owen Scott following rehearsal of their wedding plans. Throughout the reception rooms artistic vases of mixed garden flowers were used.

In the dining room a green and white color note prevailed. The dining table was spread with a lace cloth, holding as its centerpiece a tiered wedding cake, beautifully embossed, surrounded by white carnations and fern; white tapers were used in the candelabra.

Heart shaped ices, mints, nuts, and other dainty refreshments were served by: Jane Reeder, Nena Wilson, Bobby Reeder and Peggy Reeder. Miss Reeder wore a lovely gown of aquamarine starched chiffon with embroidered bodice and a corsage of pink rosebuds.

About forty guests were included in this hospitality.