Skip to Main Content

In Memoriam: R. Scott Brundage

A friend and alumnus of the Purdue department of Forestry and Natural Resources has passed away. R. Scott Brundage, 84, who received his bachelor’s degree in forestry in 1958 and master’s degree in forest management in 1959, died Aug. 8, 2020, in Columbia, Missouri.

Scott Brundage
Brundage’s ties to FNR and the West Lafayette area ran deep. The son of Purdue Professor Emeritus of Forestry Roy C. Brundage, Scott grew up in West Lafayette and graduated from West Lafayette High School before earning both of his degrees from Purdue.

In 1960, Scott went on to conduct forest surveys for the state of Missouri. He remained involved in the forestry industry for the remainder of his career, acting as a farm forester for the state of Ohio, as a reclamation specialist for Peabody Coal Company and as a consulting forester. He was also heavily involved in the Missouri Consulting Foresters Association and the Walnut Council International.

Personally, Scott and his wife Ginny (Virginia Goben Brundage, married June 4, 1960 in West Lafayette) owned many tree farms, some of which were recognized by the American Tree Farm System program.

Sccot Brundage 2005In addition to Scott’s direct ties to Purdue FNR, the department awards the Roy C. Brundage Memorial Scholarship annually, which was made possible by an endowment established by Scott in memory of his father Roy C. Brundage, who began working at Purdue in 1930. The scholarship is available to students pursuing degrees in forest management or forest products.

The 2020 recipients of the scholarship were Rachel Brummet, Avery Cook and Krista Marshall.

“Scott was a force of nature. He lived life energetically, smiled broadly, and laughed heartily,” professor of wildlife science Rob Swihart said. “He enjoyed sharing stories from his escapades, usually with embellishment. His enthusiasm for forestry and Purdue (especially its students) was genuine and limitless. Scott was an ardent supporter of the Department of Forestry and Natural Resources and the Hardwood Tree Improvement and Regeneration Center (HTIRC), serving on external advisory councils for both. His life’s journey enriched those of us fortunate enough to encounter him along the way.”

For more on Scott’s life and legacy, read obituaries in the Columbia Tribune and Columbia Missourian.

Memorials may be donated to The Walnut Council Foundation (1007 North 725 West, West Lafayette, IN 47906). Condolences may be left online for the family at www.ParkerMillard.com.

Featured Stories

Leo Koenigsfeld
Leo Koenigsfeld - Graduate Ag Research Spotlight

Leo Koenigsfeld grew up in a small town in central Missouri with the unlikely name of...

Read More
Bill and CD Young at a table in front of greenery in the Spirit and Elephant restaurant.
Purdue hosts new plant-based product development competition

A generous gift from the Young Family will drive food innovation at Purdue University over the...

Read More
Austin Grant with colleagues during his summer internship with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
FNR Field Report: Austin Grant

Austin Grant, a senior majoring in aquatic sciences with a minor in military science and...

Read More
Kingsly Ambrose in front of the solar system model in Discovery Park on campus.
ABE professor recognized for advancing ag safety and health

Kingsly Ambrose, a professor in the Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering, was...

Read More
Rice inspects insects in the lab
When passions connect: insect biology meets history

Her love for insects started early. “From the moment I could walk, I was outside looking at...

Read More
Student wearing a white T-shirt works on a laptop covered in Purdue stickers while sitting at a table with a notebook open. The background shows other students studying in a large, well-lit space.
2025–26 Animal Sciences scholarship recipients announced

Purdue Animal Sciences awarded $72,200 in scholarships to students for the 2025–26 school...

Read More
To Top