Paul Eugene (“Gene”) Scarborough, Jr.

Paul Eugene (“Gene”) Scarborough, Jr. of Burlington, North Carolina, passed away peacefully in the loving arms of his family on January 18, 2018—a beautiful new-fallen snow was just outside his window. He is survived by his wife of 57 years, Joanne Sasser Scarborough; his daughters and sons-in-law, Sharon and Rick Waldron, and Paula and David Juras; grandson Noah Waldron, granddaughters Jordan Waldron and Gigi Juras, and brother-in-law Daniel W. Sasser, Jr.  He was the only child of Paul Eugene, Sr. and Saxon Voss Scarborough.

Gene was born on April 25, 1937, and grew up in Statesville, NC.  He loved recounting fond memories of misadventures with cousins James “Jimmy” Hall, Hansard “Hank” Lewis, Richard Lowder, and Fielding Scarborough.  He was an early member of the NC Civil Air Patrol.  Gene graduated with High Honors from North Carolina State University with Bachelor’s (’59) and Master’s (‘61) Degrees in Electrical Engineering, and was a member of Eta Kappa Nu and Phi Kappa Phi Honor Societies.  He enjoyed a 35-year career with AT&T Bell Laboratories during which he was a major contributor to the Safeguard anti-missile program, supporting engineering and testing efforts in North Dakota, New Jersey and North Carolina; was the technical lead for the first application of magnetic bubble memory technology in a military application; and was Bell Labs liaison for government applications, supporting numerous systems developed for the FAA and Navy.

But Gene enjoyed even more a 20-year retirement with Joanne, whom he treasured and adored, and keeping up with his three grandchildren who treasured and adored him.  Gene was a loving and joyful husband, father, Granddaddy, faithful member of Front Street United Methodist Church and volunteer with many organizations—coordinated or participated with communication volunteers for community events and emergencies, built home access ramps for persons with disabilities, and revitalized computers for The Hospice League Stores.  He loved organ, choral, orchestral, and symphonic music—the bigger and louder the better.  He loved photographing nature and historic places—traveled the world with Joanne, taking hundreds of thousands of photographs.  He loved amateur radio—built his first as a teen, and was a leader in the NC Amateur Radio Emergency Service—his call sign was W4YBQ.  He loved teaching Sunday School, especially lessons from The Gospel According to Peanuts.  He was blessed with many decades of the dearest friendships with “The Dirty Dozen.” And he really loved Joanne’s cooking.

A service celebrating Gene’s life will be held on February 10 at 2:00 at Front Street United Methodist Church, 136 South Fisher Street, Burlington NC.  The family will receive visitors in the church’s Heritage Center immediately following.

The family would like to thank the doctors and staff at Alamance Regional Medical and Cone Health Cancer Centers for their excellent and compassionate care.  In lieu of flowers, remembrances will be well-used by Cone Health Cancer Center, Hospice of Alamance-Caswell, and Front Street UMC Music Ministries.  MTYLTT


 

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