William (Bill) Bryson Scott, Jr.

William (Bill) Bryson Scott, Jr., 78, died at home in Charlottesville on November 10, 2024.

He was born October 22, 1946, in Aurora, Illinois, to the late William Scott, Sr. and Louise Reimer Scott.

 He graduated from Cherry Hill High School, in Cherry Hill, New Jersey in 1964 and the University of Akron in 1968. He and his wife, Dottie Scott, moved to Charlottesville in 1980 when they became the directors of Canterbury Pre-School. Over the next 28 years, hundreds of children benefited from his imagination and deep understanding of small humans. They sailed boats through the creek he tended, splashed in the small waterfalls he built, heard the tales he spun, flew the wooden airplane, and climbed aboard the train he named after Mark Twain. After he retired in 2008, his grandchildren enjoyed playing in those same spaces and exploring his toy collection, including several antique toy soldiers and toy cars.

He was a superior father, grandfather, and husband. Bill’s family and friends knew him as wise and witty; thoughtful and generous; independent and creative. He enjoyed music, reading, board games, and nature. He extensively explored his Nelson County land, in his younger years hiking the woods and camping by the stream, as an older man appreciating the magic of the views from his hammock. He was a master strategist, in life and with board games. He regularly attended the World Boardgaming Championships and Prezcon conventions, taking prizes in Afrika Korps and PanzerBlitz. He attended Charlottesville Mennonite Church with his family.

He is survived by his wife of 52 years, Dorothy (Dottie) Driver Scott, of Charlottesville and his daughters, Rebecca Scott and husband, Andy Orban, of Charlottesville and Holly Scott and husband, Reuben Miller, of Lovingston, Virginia, and by his brother Xenophon Scott and his wife, Marilyn, of Richmond. He is also survived by grandchildren, Nathaniel, Carrie, and Will Orban of Charlottesville and a large extended family. He will be missed by many friends, with several friendships dating back nearly 65 years.

A memorial service will be held at 3:00 p.m. on Sunday, November 17, 2024 at Meadows Presbyterian Church in Charlottesville (2200 Angus Road), officiated by Roy and Maren Hange, pastors of Charlottesville Mennonite Church. 

The family requests that anyone attending not bring or wear any scented products. 

The family will receive friends immediately following the service with a private internment held at a later date.

 In lieu of flowers the family suggests that memorials take the form of contributions to Mennonite Disaster Service.

Arrangements by Wells/Sheffield Funeral Chapel, Lovingston (434-263-4097).