William Russell Scutt

SCUTT, William Russell, 88, of Centerville passed away on Monday, October 12, 2015. Bill was a professional musician and music school teacher. He retired from the West Carrollton schools after 30 years of teaching and played in the first violin section of the Dayton Philharmonic for 37 years. Bill was born in Amherst, Ohio on February 12, 1927. After high school, he entered the U.S. Navy and served for almost two years, having been stationed in California. He pursued a music career at the Cincinnati Conservatory of Music where he met his wife of nearly 50 years, Suzanne Schmidt. After their wedding, they lived together in Lexington, KY and Champaign, IL where they both obtained Masters degrees of music at the University of Illinois. A job opening in Dayton brought them to this area. They also found joy in becoming members of Westminster Presbyterian Church in Dayton where they both participated in many musical performances. They had a wonderful life together as musicians, interrupted only by Suzy's passing in 2001. Besides his wife, Bill was preceded in death by his parents, Lewis and Enid (Powell) Scutt, and brother Kenneth Scutt. He is survived by son David Scutt and his friend Melody Rainville of Mason OH; daughter Linda Scutt and her husband Tom Duffee of Springfield OH; grandsons Robin Duffee of Columbus OH, and Asa Duffee of Richmond IN; niece Janet Pressler of Sierra Vista, AZ; nephews Jeffrey Scutt of Penn Valley, PA, and James Scutt of Reisterstown MD; sister-in-law Carole Scutt-Malcolm of Sarasota FL; and sister-in-law Joan Schmidt of Columbus OH. Bill was the first conductor of the Dayton Junior Strings, a string orchestra for young students in the Dayton area. He held that position for 10 years in the 80's and 90's. Bill influenced many young musicians, many of whom are playing professionally throughout the world. His presence at many music concerts all over the Miami Valley will be missed. Visitation will be held on Friday, October 16 at Routsong Funeral Home in Kettering OH from 4:00 PM to 6:00 PM. A graveside service will be held at 10 AM, Saturday, October 17, 2015 at David's Cemetery, 4600 Mad River Road, with Rev. Sue Hamilton officiating. A memorial service will be held at Westminster Presbyterian Church, 125 North Wilkinson Street in Dayton OH on Saturday, October 31 at 2:00 PM. In lieu of flowers, it is requested to make donations to the Westminster Presbyterian Church Music Fund.

Funeral Home:
Kettering Routsong Funeral Home
2100 E. Stroop Rd.
Kettering, OH
US 45429