Billie Hugh Scillian

He was born February 6, 1936 in Grand Rivers, Kentucky to Lavada and Woodrow Scillian. He spent his childhood in Grand Rivers and Evansville, IN. In 1954, he graduated from Central High School in Evansville and left for Western Kentucky University. A desire to pursue a business degree led him to transfer to Murray State University where he also joined the ROTC program.

After graduating from Murray State in 1958, he accepted a commission in the United States Army. In 1962, he married Betti Jo Hendershot, also of Evansville, in Schweinfurt, Germany. It was the official launch of a love affair that lasted 62 years.

For three decades he served the nation he loved in both the Infantry and the Ordinance Corps. His two tours of duty in Vietnam earned him four Bronze Star medals, the Legion of Merit and the Meritorious Service Medal among many other honors and commendations. His postings carried him and Betti across the country and around the world. After retiring from military service, he enjoyed a sterling second career with Northrup Grumman at Fort Sill, OK and at Redstone Arsenal in Huntsville, AL.

An elite golfer, he won too many military and club tournaments to count, and over his lifetime recorded an astonishing 10 holes-in-one. He developed a love of the game as a young boy caddying at Evansville Country Club. Before long, he had a Ben Hogan swing that was the envy of many. It led to a lifelong passion for competitive golf that burned brightly well into his 80s. (The week that he turned 86, he carded a 67.) He leaves behind a long trail of friendships built on golf courses around the world, most recently at Orange Tree Golf Club of Orlando.

The great pride of his life was the family he and Betti created. They had two sons, Devin, a television journalist and author in Detroit, and Troy, an advertising executive and creative director in Orlando.

Bill is survived by his loving wife, Betti, son and daughter-in-law Devin and Corey Scillian of Grosse Pointe, MI, son and daughter-in-law Troy and Liz Scillian of Orlando, FL, and six grandchildren, Griffin, Quinn, Madison, Christian, Ian and Mason. He was preceded in death by his parents.

Col. Scillian will be interred at Arlington National Cemetery at a date to be determined.