Herbert Scott

Herbert Alvin Scott, 86, passed away peacefully on December 25, 2025, in Raleigh, North Carolina.

Born in 1939 in Fort Wayne, Indiana, Herb was the son of Walter Scott and Mildred Scott, both of whom preceded him in death. He most recently resided in Smithfield, North Carolina.

A gifted student and lifelong learner, Herb graduated from Indiana University in Bloomington, earning his bachelor’s degree summa cum laude and finishing first in a graduating class of 492. He was a member of the honorary Beta Gamma Sigma fraternity and a recipient of a National Defense Fellowship.

Herb proudly served in the United States Army, where he worked as a computer programmer, including an assignment in Orléans, France. This early work with computers laid the foundation for a long and distinguished career in information technology.

He spent more than 25 years with IBM, beginning in 1968 and retiring in 1994. Over the course of his career, Herb held a variety of technical and leadership roles, providing national and international support in systems engineering, networking, and enterprise software. He contributed to new product development, technical marketing, national and international customer support, and multi-vendor networking solutions, working with technologies that were often cutting-edge at the time. He received multiple division- and director-level awards recognizing his contributions, and even after early retirement was twice rehired by IBM to lend his expertise in consulting and contractor roles.

Outside of work, Herb had a great sense of humor and many passions. He enjoyed golf, motorcycles, and cars, with a particular appreciation for Corvette Stingrays and classic automobiles. He was also a devoted animal lover. In his later years, he shared his life with his beloved 16-year-old Dachshund, and earlier cherished his Golden Retrievers.

Herb quietly gave back in meaningful ways, including offering support and encouragement to others through his involvement with Alcoholics Anonymous, something he felt strongly about and took seriously.

He is survived by his two sons, Keith Scott of Chapel Hill, North Carolina, and Kevin Scott of Atlanta, Georgia; his brother, Larry Scott, and sister-in-law Peg Scott, of the Poconos, Pennsylvania; and his former wife, Dorothy Scott.

Herb will be remembered for his intelligence, dry wit, independence, and love for animals, cars, and learning. He lived life on his own terms and will be missed by those who knew and loved him.