F. Norment "Rusty" McKellar

The youngest son of F. Norment McKellar, Sr. and Olga Goodwin McKellar, Rusty was born on May 14, 1930, in Lumberton, NC, spending his early childhood in Rowland, NC. He graduated from Lee H. Edwards High School in Asheville, NC (1950), where he participated in track and field and was an editor of The Hillbilly, the school yearbook. He entered Georgia Tech, where he was a member of Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity. However, he then volunteered for the United States Navy, serving from 1951-1952, during the Korean War. Returning to Georgia Tech, he obtained a BS degree in Civil Engineering. During this time, he met, fell in love with, and married Joyce Quillin, of Gate City, VA.

Spending his entire career as a civil engineer, Rusty worked for the US Bureau of Public Roads, which became the Federal Highway Administration, until his retirement in 1988. Rusty was pleased to have played a role in the successful deployment of the interstate highway system in his home state of North Carolina.

Scouting played a large role in Rusty’s life. Serving scouts in the Occoneechee Council for more than three decades in various capacities such as committee member, cub and scoutmaster, and coordinator of the Adult Canoe Training Course, he dedicated much of his adult life to training boys in scouting. He was pleased to see many boys under his guidance achieve the rank of Eagle, including his own two sons. Rusty recognized and preserved for the council the half-ton petrified log that currently resides at the Mess Hall at Camp Durant near Carthage, NC. He presented a cross-section of the log to the Scout Office and on behalf of the Council presented a large end piece to the NC Museum of Natural History, which Agriculture Commissioner Jim Graham, accepted for the museum. For his service to the Boy Scouts of America, Rusty was given the Silver Beaver Award, the highest award bestowed by the BSA to an adult volunteer.

Rusty enjoyed traveling with family and loved introducing his grandchildren to this joy. He passed his love of the outdoors including, climbing, camping, shooting, canoeing, and especially sailing to his children and grandchildren, and son-in-law. He will be greatly missed by his family and friends.

Rusty is survived by his wife of 55 years, Joyce Quillin McKellar and their children: Catherine McKellar Wallin (Sam) of Roanoke, VA, Fred Norment McKellar (Trish) of Fuquay-Varina, NC, and Thomas Taylor McKellar (Lisa) of Wake Forest, NC. Also surviving him are his seven cherished grandchildren – Cleo Davis (Houston, TX), Leis and Erick Wallin (Roanoke, VA), and Joshua, Emily, Hannah, and Madison Ann McKellar (Wake Forest, NC). He is also survived by cousins Gay Goodwin Goldstone (Richmond, VA) and Hobbs Goodwin (Richmond, VA) and brother and sister-in-law Tommy and Lois Quillin (Gate City, VA).

His family will receive friends on Saturday, April 21, 2012 from 11:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m. at St. Mark's United Methodist Church, Raleigh, N.C. will a service immediately at 1:00 p.m. Inurnment will be held Monday, April 23rd at 1:00pm in Holston View Cemetery in Gate City, Virginia.

In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made in Rusty’s name to the Boy Scouts of America, PO Box 41229, Raleigh, NC 27629.