Obituaries

Wayne "Scotty" Scott Gudmundson

Photo of Wayne "Scotty" Scott Gudmundson
"Old Quarterbacks never die-they just fade back and pass." Wayne "Scotty" Scott Gudmundson, 91, Hot Springs Village departed for Heaven on Aug. 17, 2012 and will be very very missed by his wife. Scotty was born on April 3, 1921 in Ogden, Utah to the late Colonel Wayne Alger and Fay (Tribe) Gudmundson. Scotty was born and raised a Mormon and was an all around athlete who was noticed by the Detroit Scouts among others including dressing out with the Los Angeles Angels and offered many baseball contracts. However Scotty accepted a baseball scholarship to George Washington University in Washington, D.C., when Scotty tried out for football he then was assigned a position as quarterback by the coaches. While in college Scotty was a member of the Sigma Chi Fraternity and this is where he met his wife, Joyce. Scotty became the youngest assistant physical director of the FBI, he went on and played football for the NFL for a few years, he worked as a personnel director for North American Aviation and hired the engineers who worked to put the first man on the moon. After leaving North American Aviation he began his own business career centers, which continued to hire special engineers. Scotty then went into the cemetery business as the director of sales starting first at Rose Hills and then Forrest Lawn in California, eventually moving to Arkansas with Pine Crest Cemetery. After his retirement, Scotty continued to be active, he was an avid golfer and the first President of Maumelle Country Club, he and Joyce enjoyed their retirement in Hot Springs Village staying active playing golf, cards and dancing. Scotty is preceded in death by his parents; his stepmother, Lilas; one son, Robert Wayne; one brother, Lt. Robert Wallace Gudmundson; and one sister, Jean Babbit. Scotty is survived by his wife of 70 years, Joyce; daughter, Jodi and husband Walt Ward of Ohio and their three sons, Steve Ward of North Little Rock, Brandt Ward and his wife Diana with their two children Briana and Max, Shaine Ward and his son Parker of Ohio; daughter, Nanci Gudmundson of Little Rock and her two children, daughter, Jennifer Swanson and her son Aaron Bostwick of Little Rock; son, Jason Swanson and his wife Carla of Tennessee with their four children, sons, Riley and Braxton and stepdaughters Shania and Cheyenne Brush; daughter, Debe and husband Bobby Rigdon of Conway with their two children, son, Kasey Rigdon with his daughter Gillian, daughter, Sarah and her husband Tommy Hiegel of Conway with their two daughters Cecilia and Ellie. There will be a private family graveside celebration of Scotty's life at CedarVale Cemetery in Hot Springs Village. The family request in lieu of flowers that donations be made to your favorite charity or World Service for the Blind at www.lwsb.org. Our special thanks to Dr. Finch and all the caring personnel with National Park Medical Center and Odyssey Hospice. Arrangements entrusted to CedarVale Funeral Home. Guests may register at www.cedarvalefuneralhome.com. "When the star is gone, there is no show."

Published August 19, 2012

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