Richard Scott, 72, of Corinth, MS, passed away on Thursday, February 1, 2018 at Methodist Le Bonheur Healthcare in Germantown, TN. Richard was born June 6, 1945 in Corinth, Mississippi. His childhood was spent playing sports, enjoying his time with the Boy Scouts, playing with his Plaxico cousins, and being a member of Gaines Chapel Methodist Church. Richard excelled academically and graduated from Corinth High School in 1963. His perfect score of 36 on the ACT earned him a scholarship to Mississippi State University. Richard was a hero in every sense of the word. He joined the US Army in 1968, and served in Vietnam, Charlie Company, 1st Battalion-20th Infantry. He was awarded three separate Purple Hearts for his extraordinary service in combat. During his military career, Richard was also awarded the Bronze Star for meritorious achievement in ground operations against hostile forces. The Department of the Army also awarded him the Army Commendation Medal, Third Oak Leaf Cluster, two Army achievement medals and two meritorious service medals. After retiring from the army in 1992, he worked for the United States Postal Service, in Honolulu, Hawaii. Richard loved adventure and truly was a world traveler. During his military years, he was stationed twice in Germany. He ran with the bulls in Pamplona, Spain. He enjoyed visiting neighboring countries including France, Belgium and Netherlands. After retiring from the Post Office, he moved to Thailand, and later lived several years in Cambodia. Richard loved the Asian culture and developed many close friendships there. He co-owned a small bar and introduced the locals to good old southern cooking. They loved his pinto beans and cornbread. Golf was one of Richard’s favorite pastimes. He reveled in the opportunity to play on the beautiful courses in Hawaii, Manila or wherever his travels took him. After years abroad, Richard returned to Corinth where he filled his days rekindling friendships with school friends and reuniting with his Vietnam buddies. He gardened, enjoyed crossword puzzles, and visiting with friends and family on his porch, around his jukebox. For the past several years, he displayed his Christmas villages outside for others to share his holiday spirit before attending the annual Plaxico Christmas get-together. Richard always had his truck packed and ready for an impromptu trip to the ‘Little Red’ to fish with his siblings, a trip down to see Ronnie, or to fish and camp with his daughter’s family at the Spring River in Arkansas. Richard loved many. Many more loved him. A celebration of Richard’s life will be held at 1 pm Friday, February 9, 2018 at Corinth National Cemetery with Military Honors officiated by Rev. Roger Shock. Interment will follow in Corinth National Cemetery. Honorary pallbearers include Ronnie Wallace, Jimmy Howie, and Bill McAnally. Magnolia Funeral Home is entrusted with the arrangements. Those left to honor Richard’s memory include his daughters: Suzanne Scott (Sam Lincoln) of Sherwood, AR and Teresa Giordano of Marlborough, Massachusetts; his grandchildren: Hailey Strawser (Chris), Joseph Scott, and Meagan Lincoln; 4 great-grandchildren; his brother: Bob Scott (Jan) of Corinth, MS; his sisters: Cynthia Freudiger (Bill) of Corinth, MS and Carolyn Shaw (Charlie) of Bartlett, TN; several nieces, nephews, other relatives and a host of friends. He was preceded in death by his parents: Peewee and Lillian Scott. Online condolences may be expressed at magnoliafuneralhome.net.
