Dr. Walter Avery Scarborough, Jr.

DR. WALTER AVERY SCARBOROUGH, JR.

January 18, 1940 – January 19, 2026

A beloved husband, father and brother has left us to join his only daughter, Heather who preceded him in death one year ago. He will be greatly missed by those who knew and loved him for his dry wit and caring nature.

Walter was born at Rex Hospital to Walter Avery Scarborough and Miriam Edgerton Scarborough in 1940. He grew up in Wendell graduating from Wendell High School in 1958; and entered Duke University majoring in pre-med studies and zoology. While at Duke he was awarded Phi Eta Sigma Fraternity, The James Rast Prize for Excellence in Comparative Anatomy and Phi Beta Kappa. He graduated magna Cum Laude in 1962 in the top one percent of a class of 1000 earning his Medical Degree in 1967. After enjoying an internship at The University of Virginia Hospital in Charlottesville, Virginia Walter returned to Duke beginning his residency. Upon completing one year of residency he served two years active duty in the Navy: one year as Staff Psychiatrist at Camp Lejeune. After his Active Duty service, Walter completed his Psychiatric Residency; and as chief resident completed a Fellowship in Psychiatry at Duke.

In addition to opening his private practice in Raleigh, Walter enjoyed his work as Psychiatric Consultant to the Franklin County Mental Health Clinic in Louisburg. He held this position from 1974 until 2003. He also served as Chief Psychiatric Consultant (in-house) for Disability Determination Services from 1974 until his retirement in 2019.

Throughout his life Walter had a great love and appreciation for Antiques. This began in his teenage years and with many visits to Elizabeth Henry’s shop in Wendell. He enjoyed collecting early North Carolina Pottery and Decoys, Pewter and handmade American Furniture. Bird watching and Botony were also among his hobbies.

A celebration of Walter’s life will be held at 2:00 PM on Saturday, January 31, 2026, in the chapel of Strickland Funeral Home. The family will receive friends from 1:00 – 1:45 PM prior to the service.

Walter is survived by his wife Sheila Scarborough, stepson William Brinkley (Sonny), his loving Sister, Sandra Scarborough Hale (Jim) of Wendell and Pine Knoll Shores, nephew Robert T. Hale (Becki) of Raleigh. He enjoyed being a special “Grunkel” to his great niece and nephew, Emma and Miles Hale.

Flowers accepted, or donations can be made to the National Alliance on Mental Illness, 120 W. Hargett St., Raleigh, NC 27601; Meals on Wheels of Wake County, 1001 Blair Dr., Suite 100, Raleigh, NC 27603; or Duke University, 1328 Campus Dr., Durham, NC 27708.

Arrangements are by Strickland Funeral Home & Crematory, Louisburg.

www.stricklandfuneralhome.net.

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