Clyde Russell Scoville

Clyde Russell Scoville

Feb. 17, 1940 - Feb. 16. 2009

Clyde Russell Scoville, Transit Specialist for the U.S. Department of Transportation for 30 years, died February 16 at his home in Flint Hill, Rappahannock County, one day short of his 70th birthday. He had multiple myeloma. Russ was bom in Salt Lake City, Utah, where he received an undergraduate degree in Geography from the University of Utah in 1961 and an MBA from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania in 1970. He served in the Utah Air National Guard. He was a Peace Corps Volunteer in Ethiopia from 1962-4, and then took a 14,000 mile round trip from Ethiopia to South Africa on his BMW motorcycle. He returned to Ethiopia as an Associate Director in 1966-8, immediately after his marriage to Polly Rightmire. He worked for the Urban Mass Transit Administration of the Department of Transportation from 1971-2001, including one year in Puerto Rico as a special advisor to the Secretary of Transportation in Public Works. He commuted by bicycle to work in D C. from his home in Alexandria for 30 years. Most of that time he lived on a mini-farm where he and his family raised dairy goats and other farm animals. He retired in 2000 and moved the next year to a timber frame home he helped design in Flint Hill by the Blue Ridge mountains. There he edited two books written by local author, James Russell, built stone walls around his house, learned to cane chairs, and enjoyed the friendly Rappahannock County community. He is survived by four brothers and two sisters, his wife of 42 years, Polly Rightmire Scoville, daughters Becky Timothy (Darren), Jen Babcock (John), sons Chris (Elizabeth) and Ben (Stephanie), and thirteen grandchildren. He was an active member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints in Front Royal, where a memorial •ervice was held on February 21.