He was a tireless railroad engineer, a pioneer in his day and the patriarch of one of Auburn’s most widely known families.
To many, he was a likable fellow; to family, he was a great father, an interesting man who enjoyed telling train tales to the many grandchildren who climbed onto his lap.
“My dad was quite a man,” said Jim Scobee, 67, from his home in Federal Way. “He was a hard-working man all his life. He was not an idle man. He worked hard and played hard. He lived a good, full life.”
Francis Scobee, a longtime Auburnite, worked on the railroad for 42 years. He was the proud father of two sons who served in the Air Force, the oldest becoming an astronaut.
Francis Scobee died March 9 of heart failure at his Auburn retirement home. He was 91.
Born in Winlock on Feb. 25, 1918, he graduated from Easton High School. A good athlete, he played many sports and boxed.
At 17, he went to work shoveling coal in the roundhouse for the Burlington Northern Railroad.
He married Edlynn Miller on March 16, 1937. They lived in Easton until Francis Scobee was promoted to locomotive fireman in 1940, at which time they moved to Auburn.
Scobee worked in Auburn for 20 years before moving to Montana in 1960 to become a foreman and train master for the railroad.
He eventually returned to Auburn to run a train engine.
In his time with the railroad, Scobee assumed many roles, from foreman to engineer.
The job came with hazards. At 52, while riding inside the cab of a train as it was crossing the Green River east of Auburn, Francis Scobee was shot. Two juveniles decided to use the moving train’s engine lights as target practice for their air rifle. A stray pellet struck him below his elbow as he was reaching to pull the horn and lodged in his upper arm.
Doctor insisted on leaving the pellet in his arm rather than risk damage by removing it.
The Scobees raised two boys. Jim Scobee was a jet fighter mechanic who worked for Boeing for 37 years and later took up flying lessons. Francis “Dick” Scobee flew in Vietnam, became a test pilot and eventually was selected for NASA’s astronaut program.
In April 1984, Dick Scobee piloted a Challenger Space Shuttle mission that successfully deployed one satellite and repaired another. He was elevated to the role of spacecraft commander.
On Jan. 28, 1986, Dick Scobee and six other crew members were killed aboard the Space Shuttle Challenger, which suffered catastrophic booster failure during launch.
The elder Scobee was at Cape Canaveral, Fla., and witnessed the horrific explosion that broke apart the Challenger 73 seconds into its flight.
“Dick’s death really hit my father hard,” Jim Scobee said of the tragedy.
Francis Scobee retired at age 60.
He was an avid golfer and had three career hole-in-ones, the last of which came when he was around 80 years old.
He also enjoyed reading Westerns, singing and playing the organ.
In his younger days, Francis Scobee enjoyed fishing and boating.
Throughout his life, Francis Scobee made many friends.
“He was a very likable person who always told stories,” Jim Scobee said. “He loved his family and he enjoyed his friends.
“He was a very intelligent man who loved to have people around,” he added.
Francis Scobee and his wife lived in Yakima for 25 years, just off the 18th fairway at Sun Tides Golf Course.
After Edlynn Scobee passed away in 2007, Francis Scobee returned to Auburn to be closer to family.
“I loved my parents, but I also respected them,” Jim Scobee said.
“My dad taught me many things – patience and respect. He taught us to respect others and yourself. He taught us how to work hard. He was very truthful.”
Francis Scobee is survived by his son, Jim, his wife, Marty, and their four children (James Scobee, Amy Scobee, Shelley Johnson and Kim Jellison); former daughter-in-law, June, who was married to the late Dick Scobee, and their two children, Kathie R. (Scobee) Fulgham and Richie Scobee; 11 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
A memorial will be held at 1 p.m. April 25 at Grace Community Church, 1320 Auburn Way S. The public is welcome.
