Royal Charles Scofield, Jr. was born in Sebring, Mahoning County, Ohio, on August 27, 1913, the son of Royal C. and Ola Bowen Scofield. He attended the public schools and graduated from Sebring McKinley High School in 1932.
During the depression years of the Thirties, he worked for several employers and in 1942 he began with Morgan Engineering Co. in Alliance, Ohio. He served this for many years as Sales Office Manager.
On November 16, 1940 he was married to Violet Ward of Sebring. The Scofields continued to reside in Sebring and were members of the First Presbyterian Church, where he served as a Ruling Elder. Vi Scofield died in 1992 after a long illness. On July 24, 1993, he married Eileen Crawford, who survives.
Brother Scofield was made a Master Mason in Sebring Lodge No. 626 on February 15, 1943 and served the Lodge as its Worshipful Master in 1948. In November 1965, the Lodge elected him Secretary and he served for four years. He received his 50-year award in 1993 and his 60-year recognition in 2002.
He was exalted in Capitular Masonry in Alliance Chapter No. 83 Royal Arch Masons on July 27, 1943. He served the Chapter as High Priest in 1951. In 1955 he was elected Secretary of the Eighteenth Capitular District and served one year.
He was received in Cryptic Masonry in Alliance Council No. 112 Royal and Select Masters in September 1943 and served the Council as Illustrious Master in 1950.
He was created a Knight Templar in Alliance Commandery No. 67 Knights Templar on November 22, 1943 and served as Commander in 1960. He was elected President of the Eighth Division Council for Templar Advancement for the year 1965.
He was inducted into Ohio Priory No. 18 Knights of the York Cross of Honour at Logan, Ohio, in November of 1960; appointed Hospitaler for the County of Stark in 1973.
He became a member of the Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite in the Valley of Youngstown as a member of the Charter Class of 1949. In 1966 he was appointed to the officer line of Youngstown Council, Princes of Jerusalem, which he served as Sovereign Prince in 1970. He was crowned an Honorary Member of the Supreme Council, Northern Masonic Jurisdiction in Boston in September 1972.
He became a member of Tadmor Temple Shrine in Akron in 1944 and served as an Ambassador. He became a member of Clarence E. O’Neal Council No. 53 Allied Masonic Degrees in Cleveland in 1961 and was the Council’s Sovereign Master in 1969. As a Charter Member of Ohio Lodge of Research, he served as the Lodge’s Secretary for four years. He was a member of seven other Masonic Research Lodges.
He received the Royal Order of Scotland in Milwaukee in 1970; became a member of St. Benedict Conclave, Red Cross of Constantine in Cleveland in 1973. He was a member of Masonic Veterans Association of Ohio and of South Dakota, a member of Aut Mori Grotto of Youngstown; Knight Masons of Ireland; Grand College of Rites of the U.S.A.; Alliance Shrine Club; Past Masters Association of the 24th District; and held many Honorary Memberships including one from the Grand Lodge of South Dakota.
He was a member of Alma Chapter No. 498 Order of Eastern Star in Sebring, and served as Worthy Patron in 1951 and 1953; member of Grace Court, Order of Amaranth in Alliance and received the Honorary Legion of Honor from the International Order of DeMolay.
In October 1958 he was appointed District Education Officer for the 24th Masonic District, and served for four years. In 1962 he was appointed District Deputy Grand Master and served in 1963, 1964 and 1965.
In 1962 he was appointed to the Grand Lodge Committee on Masonic Education and continued on the Committee through 1973. After his service as Grand Master, he returned as Chairman of the Education Committee, establishing Ohio as one of the leaders in Masonic Education in the United States.
He was the representative of the Grand Lodge of Alabama near the Grand Lodge of Ohio. In 1995, he served as National President of the Philalethes Society. For many years he served the Grand Lodge of Ohio as Fraternal Correspondent.
In October 1966, M.W. Brother Ben R. Evans, Grand Master, appointed him to the office of the Junior Grand Deacon. He was subsequently appointed Senior Grand Deacon in 1967, Grand Marshal in 1968 and Grand Orator in 1969.
He was elected Junior Grand Warden in 1970, Senior Grand Warden in 1971 and Deputy Grand Master in 1972. On October 12, 1973, in Cincinnati he was elected Most Worshipful Grand Master of Masons in Ohio and was installed into that office on October 13, 1973.
In his 93 years of life and more than 63 years as a Master Mason Most Worshipful Brother Scofield excelled in the knowledge of Masonry, in leadership within the Craft, and in brotherly love to all he met. His wise counsel, forward thinking, and friendship will be missed by all who knew him.
Masonic Funeral Services were held at 5:45 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 30, in Sebring Presbyterian Church, 525 N. 16th St., Sebring, OH 44672. Calling hours were held in the church from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. and from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Thursday. The funeral service was held at 1:30 p.m. Friday, Dec. 1, in the church. Place of interment was Grandview Cemetery.
Past Grand Master Richard M. Wilson officiated at the Masonic service.