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Dr. Robert Scholtes
In Memory of
Dr. Robert Martin
Scholtes
1928 -
2016

Obituary for Dr. Robert Martin Scholtes

Robert Martin Scholtes, 87, of Starkville, MS, passed away February 6 at Oktibbeha County Hospital Regional Medical Center. He was an active member of First Presbyterian Church where he served as a Deacon and an Elder.

A native of Biloxi, MS, the long-time Starkville resident attended Mississippi State University where he earned his Bachelor and Master of Science degrees in Civil Engineering. Dr. Scholtes joined the faculty in 1951 where he taught until 1961 when he received a Ford Foundation Grant to pursue a Doctorate of Philosophy in geotechnical engineering at the Georgia Institute of Technology. After returning to the MSU Civil Engineering Department in 1963, he was appointed departmental chair in 1966 – a position he held until his retirement in 1990. After his retirement, Dr. Scholtes was named Professor and Head of Civil Engineering Emeritus.

He was a registered professional engineer in the state of Mississippi and a Fellow of the American Society of Civil Engineers and served as president of the Mississippi Section. Dr. Scholtes was also a member of the American Society for Engineering Education, the National Society of Professional Engineers, and the Mississippi Engineering Society, holding numerous offices in each. In 1989, he was appointed to the Mississippi State Board of Registration for Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors.
In 2014 the Mississippi Engineering Society named him as the recipient of the Distinguished Engineering Service Award.

Dr. Scholtes was preceded in death by his parents Leo Martin Scholtes and Marguerite Stroecker Scholtes, two brothers and three sisters. He is survived by this wife of 62 year, Hilda Beck Scholtes, daughters Sharon (Dan) Coleman of Murfreesboro, TN; Cindy (Pat) Tobin of Cordova, TN; Sandy (Hugh) Hamilton of Pensacola, FL; son Robby (Tina) Scholtes of Starkville, grandchildren Lindsay Hamilton, Jenny Hamilton, Sara Beth (John) Wallace, Beck (Alanna) Scholtes, Lauren Tobin and Michael Tobin.

Funeral services will be Tuesday, February 9 at 11:00 A.M. at First Presbyterian Church in Starkville with burial to follow at Memorial Gardens Cemetery. Visitation will be at the church on Monday night from 6:00-8:00P.M and Tuesday morning from 9:30 to 10:30 A.M. Services will be conducted by the Reverend Dr. Hugh Hamilton and the Reverend Dr. Martin Lifer. Pallbearers will be Sandy Ramsey, George B. Ramsey, Carlton Polk, Sammy Slaughter, Woody Montgomery and Bobby Tomlinson. Honorary pallbearers will be faculty members of the MSU Civil Engineering Department who taught with Dr. Scholtes. In lieu of flowers, gifts can be made in memory of Dr. Scholtes to the Civil and Enviornmental Engineering Department through the MSU Foundation at P.O. Box 6149, Mississippi State, MS 39762 or online at www.msufoundation.com; First Presbyterian Church, 307 University Drive, Starkville, MS 39759; Palmer Home, Columbus, MS, or the charity of choice.
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