Jerry Scott

1934 - 2022

Jerry Scott
February 28, 1934 - July 6, 2022
Columbus, Georgia - Colonel (Retired) Jerry Claude Scott died on July 6th at the age of 88 in the home he loved so well in the Spring Harbor Continuing Care Retirement Community in Columbus, Georgia.
Jerry was born to Jack Dennis Scott and Edna Maye Herrin Scott on February 28, 1934 in Ada, Oklahoma. He attended public schools there and graduated from Ada High School in 1952 after having played offensive end on that school's first of many state football championship teams. He attended Tulsa University for one year on a football scholarship before receiving an appointment to the United States Military Academy at West Point, New York. He graduated from West Point in the class of 1957 with Regular Army commission as a 2nd Lieutenant of Infantry.
The day following his graduation he married the love of his life, Jo Ellen (Jody) Hinshaw. Their life in the military took them to various posts in the continental U.S. and overseas to Germany and Hawaii. During his career he led three airborne Infantry platoons; commanded a mechanized Infantry company on the Demilitarized Zone in Korea, an airborne Infantry company in Vietnam, two Special Forces A-Teams in Germany, and an airborne Infantry battalion in the 82nd Airborne Division at Fort Bragg, NC. He was deputy commander of the 5th Special Forces Group at Fort Bragg and commanded a brigade in the 2nd Armored Division at Fort Hood, TX. He was S-3 (Operations Officer) of three different battalions; and was a staff action officer on the Army General Staff in the Pentagon and the Commander-in-Chief Pacific staff in Hawaii. His final assignment was a G-3 (Operations Officer) of XVII Airborne Corps at Fort Bragg. He completed the Basic Infantry Officers Course, Ranger School, Airborne School, and the Infantry Officers Career Course at Fort Benning; the Armed Forces Staff College at Norfolk, VA; and the Air War College at Montgomery, AL. He also worked toward a graduate level degree at the University of Maryland.
His awards and decorations included the Combat Infantryman's Badge, Expert Infantryman's Badge, Ranger Tab, Master Parachutist's Badge, two awards of Legion of Merit, the Soldier's Medal, the Bronze Star for Valor, two awards of the Meritorious Service Medal, two awards of the Air Medal, the Joint Service Commendation Medal, two awards of the Army Commendation Medal, the Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry with Silver Star, and was a member of the Ancient Order of Saint Barbara. He was awarded parachutist's wings from Greece, Vietnam, Canada, and Egypt.
He retired from the Army in 1983 when he and Jody relocated to Columbus, GA. He spent four and a half years working as Assistant to the President and Manager of the Administrative Services Division of Kinnett Dairies, Inc. in Columbus. In 1987 he departed Kinnett Dairies to become a Business Broker and Real Estate Broker under his own company, J.C. Scott, Inc., where he worked until 2007.
In October 2003 he underwent lumbar surgery to relieve lower back pains he had experienced since 1960. Unfortunately, the surgery left him paralyzed from the chest cage down and he was confined to a wheelchair for the rest of his life.
Jerry was a member of the Rotary Club of Columbus where he had perfect attendance since joining in 1983 and was a former member of its Board of Directors. He was a former member of Country Club of Columbus and of Maple Ridge Golf Course. He was Secretary of the National Ranger Memorial Foundation, Inc.; member of the Association of Graduates of USMA; Paralyzed Veterans of America; Military Officers Association of America; Military Order of World Wars; and St. Luke United Methodist Church, where he was a former member of its Administrative Board.
He loved all types of music. He had no musical talent, but often amused himself playing the guitar, the harmonica, or the pan flute. He loved bass fishing, quail hunting, bird watching, nature in general, and solving crossword and Sudoku puzzles. He had an undying sense of humor and loved all people, especially his family. Few people have ever enjoyed life more than he.
Jerry was preceded in death by his father, mother, sister Rosemary, and her husband Dr. Albert D. Neal, all of Ada, OK, and brother Dr. Robert E. Scott. He is survived by his wife Jody; their three daughters â€" Barbara Scott of Auburn, AL and her husband David Swanger and sons Lawrence Hoffman and Matthew Hoffman; Elizabeth Scott of Gainesville, GA and her son Benjamin Jacoby; and Pamela Scott of Belvedere, CA and her husband Timothy Koogle; numerous cousins, nieces, and nephews; and many friends the world over.
COL Scott will be interred in a private ceremony at the National Cemetery at Fort Benning. In lieu of flowers, friends are encouraged to make contributions to Paralyzed Veterans of America or their favorite charities.
Jerry's celebration of life service will be held on Thursday, July 28th at 1:30 at St. Luke Church, followed by a reception.