Scotty Thomas Robertson

Scotty Thomas Robertson, born June 24, 1935, passed away peacefully on September 20, 2026, surrounded by his three children and wife. He was 91 years old.

Born in Cooper, Texas, Scotty was the younger of two sons born to Jesse Saye Robertson and Newton Robertson. Growing up during the Depression in the poverty-stricken area of rural Texas, the Robertson boys learned to work hard and appreciate education. Both would go on to earn college degrees in electrical engineering from Texas A&M. They remained lifelong Aggies fans and rooted for the football team every Saturday. Scotty also served in the U.S. Army Reserves during his 20s.

Scotty moved to Washington DC after college to work for General Electric, and it was there he met and married Shirley Jewel Napier, a beautiful teacher from eastern Kentucky, in 1962.

In less than a year, Scotty and Shirley welcomed their first child, Sharon Jennifer, born in Washington DC in 1963. Soon after, the southwest beckoned and the young family moved to Scottsdale, Arizona, where Scotty began a new job with Motorola and they soon welcomed two new babies: Stacey Marie in 1965 and Scott Thomas in 1968.

The Robertsons built a vibrant life in Arizona. They loved to square dance and socialize. The family drove a camper on many vacations, including to the beaches of Mexico. Scotty became an avid hiker, often tackling the Grand Canyon. He also loved to fish, hunt, and spend time with his friends.

In 1974, Scotty accepted a position with National Semiconductor in San Jose, California, and the family made another move. Scotty and Shirley flourished in the beautiful and exciting Bay Area, taking advantage of all the opportunities around them including visits to San Francisco and the beaches of Santa Cruz.

In 1981, Scotty accepted an opportunity to return to Arizona when National Semiconductor opened a plant in Tucson. He had fallen in love with the desert and returning was a joy for him. He loved hunting quail in the desert with his son Scott and his German shorthaired pointer named BD (short for “Bird Dog”).

In 1992, Scotty made one final job transition and accepted a position with Sverdrup in Fort Walton Beach, Florida. Despite an occasional hurricane, Scotty and Shirley created a happy life in the panhandle of Florida, their final home. They built a wonderful community and found a welcoming church. They enjoyed the annual visits of their children and grandchildren.

Scotty was a skilled woodworker, making beautiful furniture. His friends appreciated his generosity in helping them with their woodworking projects. He also became an avid gardener with a specialty in camellias. He eventually joined the Camellia Society and nurtured dozens of gorgeous camellia plants in his large backyard. During the winter season when the camellias bloomed, he loved to photograph the flowers in all their variety of colors and shapes.

Scotty was also very active in his church. He served in a variety of positions and was always willing to help the church with his many skills. His faith became a driving force in his life.

In 2022, following the death of Shirley, Scotty found love for a second time. He married Charlotte Goebel that fall. The two were inseparable during the four years they had together. They expressed their love for one another every single day. Charlotte was a godsend to Scotty especially during his final weeks and days, and he never let her forget how much he appreciated her.

Scotty will be missed by many, but especially his loving wife Charlotte; and his children and their families: Sharon, David, Gemma, and Ryder; Stacey, Stephen, Evan and Isaac; and Scott, Michelle, Andrew, Megan, and Alex.

A memorial service will be held at 10am on 11/14 at Westminister Presbyterian, 2 Woodham Ave, Fort Walton Beach, FL.

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