Todd E. Scales, army man, postal worker, 'lived life big'

Todd Eric Scales Sr. always wanted to see the world. Joining the Army did it for him.

In 12 years of service, he was in the Middle East for Desert Storm, and in Panama and Germany. He was a weapons specialist and was discharged in 1992 with the rank of sergeant.

"He loved being in the military," said his sister, Jacqui Sorrells. "He loved being able to see the world and liked to tell about the places he had seen."

Todd, who went to work at the 30th Street Post Office after the Army, retiring last year after he accumulated 20 years of government service, died Monday of a heart attack. He was 46 and lived in Southwest Philadelphia.

He was born in Philadelphia to Neumar Scales Sr. and the former Margaret Henderson. He was attending John Bartram High School when he entered the Job Corps. He then joined the Army.

"He was very charismatic," his sister said. "He lived life big. He was a dapper Dan, very fashionable. He was a ladies' man."

Two marriages ended in divorce, and he had six children.

Todd loved fast cars and liked nothing better than to hop in one of his vehicles and drive off to visit old Army buddies around the country.

He planned to return to Germany, where he had a daughter, and he and Jacqui were going to go together in the fall. They made quite a pair, she at 5-foot-1 and he at 6-foot-2, but they were very close.

Todd had not been ill and his death was a shock to the family. "We haven't recovered from it," his sister said.

He also is survived by four daughters, Kyah, Eunique, Asrai and Erica; two sons, Todd Jr. and Tajah; and another sister, Thais Scales. He was predeceased by a brother, Neumar Scales Jr.

Services: 11 a.m. today at the Julian V. Hawkins Funeral Home, 53rd Street and Haverford Avenue. Friends may call at 9 a.m. Burial will be in Mount Lawn Cemetery, Sharon Hill. *

— John F. Morrison