Lyle Scott Penner

L. Scott Penner's Obituary
With great sorrow we announce the passing of our loving husband, father, and grandfather, L. Scott Penner. Born in Long Beach, California on May 9th, 1954, Scott made his mother, Marilyn Lu, a mother on Mother's Day. He was the oldest of seven children and the first born grandson to both sets of grandparents – individuals who he held great admiration for over the course of his life. He went to Sunny Hills High School, graduated from California State University, Long Beach, and earned a master's degree from Azusa Pacific University.
To recognize his life is to first recognize his complete devotion to Jesus Christ. He was a steadfast disciple and understood how much the Good Lord loved him and led him through the course of his earthly life. We are thankful to know that he is now rejoicing in the presence of the Lord for the rest of eternity.
Following his faith, Scott was devoted to his wife and family. On December 15th, 1990, he married the love of his life, Rita, and together they crafted a beautiful life together. He cherished his role as a father to Rebekah, Alyssa and Natalie and eventually his son-in-law, Travis. Even more, however, he loved his role as Grandpa to Raegan and Riley. The lasting impact of his own grandparents impressed upon him the monumental significance of his role and he persevered to impart his wisdom and knowledge.
Scott was a man of unmistakable passion. A writer, coach, teacher, and sports enthusiast He spent his days transcribing the intricacies of his life, his grandparents' lives, and the time of the golden age. He loved knowledge and was a major sports enthusiast who could tell you anything and everything about sports (up to the year 1968). He was an English teacher who loved to uncover the complexities of Hemingway, Hinton, and Faulkner and later, following his retirement from the family business where he worked for twenty-two years, served the community of Whittier Christian High School as a substitute teacher.
His most distinguishable passion, tennis, took him far and wide. Starting at the age of ten, he eventually made his way onto the NCAA Division 1 tennis team at Cal State Long Beach where he played with the best of his time. The team's greatest achievement was winning the Conference Championship in 1976. A feat he held with the highest esteem. After college, his passion for tennis unfolded in a new direction as he switched from player to coach. His 20s and 30s were spent utilizing the wisdom of John Wooden and he led his different teams to victory time and time again in league championships and two CIF championships. As the role of father took precedence, he then passed his love of the sport on to his three daughters. That sacrifice held power as all three girls eventually followed in his footsteps and played collegiately. The sport, however, remained a part of his everyday life and he was shown the beauty of God's will when he returned to coaching at Whittier Christian High School in the last three years of his life.
In conjunction with Timothy 4:7, Scott has "fought the good fight, he has finished the race and he has kept the good faith."