Vernon H. Scott

Vernon H. Scott, age 96, of Wilmington DE and formerly of Charlottesville VA, died peacefully in his apartment on June 4, 2026, after two years of hospice care.  He was born in Texas but grew up in Monte Vista CO, a small town (pop. 3,200) located in the San Luis Valley near the headwaters of the Rio Grande River.  Vernon was active in his local church and graduated from Monte Vista High School in 1949.  He completed a B.A. at Phillips University (Enid OK) with a major in Biblical study in 1953 and was ordained by the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) as a minister at his home church in Monte Vista.  While a senior at Phillips, he had fallen in love with another student, Lois Elaine, and began to court her formally immediately after his ordination.  They got married after she graduated and were happily married for over 71 years.  Vernon continued graduate studies at Phillips Graduate Seminary and Lexington Theological Seminary, where he completed his Bachelor of Divinity degree.

Over his 40-year career, Rev. Scott served at 9 churches in Arkansas, Kansas, Kentucky, Indiana, Ohio, and Virginia, and he was an Associate Regional Minister in Virginia for two years.  His longest tenure (1969-1981) was at First Christian Church of Hammond-Highland in Indiana, where he was Senior Minister.  In addition to his preaching, teaching, and pastoral work, he became a community organizer there and worked on urban issues, social justice, and women’s rights.  With his encouragement, women began to serve as Elders and hold other key roles in the congregation for the first time.  He was also instrumental in helping to establish First Christian Church of Highland as a new congregation.  For the last 9 years of his career, he was Pastor of Park Street Christian Church in Charlottesville VA.  Throughout his ministry, he preached the love of Christ for all people and spent many hours every week visiting the sick and elderly, as well as parishioners who were going through a rough time.

Vernon loved the great outdoors and took his family to Colorado every summer for camping and hiking.  He had an artistic streak that included wood working and cabinet building.  He inherited his father’s innate mechanical skills and a gift for “making do”, and he was able to repair just about anything.  When the church in Hammond could not afford to repair their pipe organ, he figured out how to replace the worn-out leather bellows.  After retirement, he worked part-time at a friend’s pipe organ company for a time, but his chief interest was in repairing and collecting vintage 19^th century reed organs, a few of which he donated to local churches.

He was soft-spoken, slow to anger, and quick to forgive.  He was a caring father and a devoted spouse who frequently left love notes when leaving the house.  He was especially grateful to the assisted living unit staff for their thoughtfulness during his final months, and he passed away peacefully after a long and happy life.

Vernon joins the rest of life predeceased by his parents, Hubert and Mabel; his older sister, Opal; his brother, Ollie, a grandson, Isaiah; his loving spouse, Lois Elaine; and his son-in-law, Steve.  He is survived by his younger sister, Frances; his children, Sharon, David (Sue), Dan (Kristen), and Paul; his grandchildren, Duncan (Bridget), Chris, Emily (Ben), Sarah (Marie), Eli, and Noah; and his great-grandchildren, Amelia, Elsie, Toby, Piper, and Molly.