Otis Scott Stroup

Otis "Scottie" Stroup entered this life on July 9, 1934, the first child of Otis Fuller and Julia Ruth Burlew Stroup in Rossville, KS, where his Stroup great grandparents had settled in the 1880's. His father died when he was six years old after a prolonged illness, which left his wife and two sons without an income or a home.

After moving to Topeka Scottie grew up as his mother's helper and younger brother's protector. In 1947 life became easier after his mother married Dannie Morris. He attended many local schools but left Topeka High School during his senior year because of his night time job as a cook. In 1952 Scottie joined the Naval Reserves and trained as an Electrician's Mate.

On March 12, 1955 at the Christian Church in Winchester Kansas, Scottie married Elinor Baker, whom he had met the previous July at a local skating rink. The next week he left for active duty and was stationed on a Reserve Training ship in Long Beach, California where Elinor joined him that May. In 1957 when he finished his two years active duty they returned to Topeka, Kansas. He was awarded his high school diploma by the Topeka High School Principal, E. B. Weaver, without him even asking.

For the next ten years, Scottie worked at a variety of jobs, including service station manager, recruiting and drill instructor for the Naval Reserves, cab driver, potato chip salesman, and post office clerk. Two children were born, Brenda in 1957 and Douglas in 1961.

In 1967 after changing his Navy career field to Personnel Administrator, Scottie and his family moved to Houston, Texas, where he began an extended Navy career. During these years, Scottie took time to be a Cub Master for Doug's Scout Troop and also was a Little League coach for his ball team. He also helped with Brenda's Girl Scout Troop, teaching Flag etiquette and driving a bus for their trip to Austin, Texas. The family also enjoyed many trips to Kansas as well as Texas lakes for boating and skiing.

Before retiring in 1985, Scottie served as a Training Administrative Reserve, in Houston, TX, Portland, OR, Point Mugu, CA, and Norfolk, VA. While in Norfolk and later in Virginia Beach, Scottie changed his career field to Career Counselor. He left on his first Mediterranean cruise in 1980 aboard the USS Saratoga with Fighter Squadron VF31 on his 25th wedding anniversary without Elinor. He also served VF 31 aboard the USS Kennedy. He ended his Navy career as a Recruiter in Memphis, TN.

Prior to retiring, Scottie and Elinor purchased a Marina and Campgrounds on the Tennessee River in Saltillo, TN. While recruiting during the week, they drove 100 miles to keep the marina store and campgrounds open on weekends. They lived full time there on the grounds from 1985-1989, enjoying the outdoors and boating lifestyle and Tennessee friends. Scottie worked long and hard hours to keep up the business and facilities, selling boat motors, bait and lots of "Scottie's Saltillo Marina" logo T-shirts. He made several long-time friends of boat stall renters, who liked to spend weekends on the water.

In 1989 Scottie and Elinor came home to Topeka after selling the marina and taking their own cruiser down the Tom-Bigbee Waterway through Mobile Bay to Ft. Walton, Beach, Florida where Brenda and family lived.

While he was working part time for Kull Auction, Scottie and Elinor became family caregivers for five family members until 2001. At this time Scottie purchased a 5th wheel RV so they could spend winters in Florida and Arizona. Scottie also served on the board for Bridlewood Home Owner's Association where they had moved in 1998. They made regular trips to Virginia and New Mexico to visit their children and grandchildren. They also took two Elderhostel Intergenerational trips with their granddaughters.

Around 2014, Scottie began his last extended adventure with Vascular Dementia/Alzheimer's. He was able to remain at home with Elinor as caregiver and some daycare and medical care at the local VA Hospital until June 2019. This heart breaking journey ended at the Kelly House with Elinor and Brenda by his side on January 18, 2020.

He is survived by his wife Elinor of 64 years; his daughter, Brenda Donaldson of Albuquerque, NM; his son, Douglas Scott (Patty) Stroup, Sr. of Panama City Beach, FL; 5 grandchildren, Natalia Donaldson, Aleyna Donaldson, Douglas (Casey) Stroup, Jr., Cody (Mary Margaret) Stroup and Samantha Stroup; 2 great-grandchildren; and sisters-in-law, Ione Stroup, Darlene (Robert) Brosa and Shirley (Harry) Parker.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his step-father, Dannie Morris; his brother, Larry Stroup; and his son-in-law, Theo Donaldson.

Funeral services will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, February 1, 2020 at the Dove Southwest Chapel, 3700 SW Wanamaker Road. Burial with military honors will follow at the Rossville Cemetery. The family will receive friends at the funeral home from 9:00 a.m. until service time on Saturday.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Central Church of Christ, 1250 SW College, Topeka, KS 66604 or Disabled American Veterans, 2200 SW Gage Blvd, Topeka, KS 66622.

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