Spencer Penrose Edwards Jr.

EDWARDS-The Reverend Canon Spencer Penrose Edwards, Jr., passed away after a brief illness. Born January 19, 1918 at Fort Hall, Idaho, Spencer soon moved with his parents to La Canada. Later, they moved to Sierra Madre where the family has remained since 1940. He attended La Canada Junior High School, Muir Tech and graduated with a degree in zoology from UCLA along with a lifelong devotion to his Delta Chi brothers. He immediately embarked on a career as a soldier, joining the Army and rising to the rank of Colonel. His first overseas assignment was in the Panama Canal zone. He served in the European theater during World War II and served as commander of the 3rd Battalion, 32nd Infantry in Korea. His final appointment was as Military Attache to the U.S. Embassy in Costa Rica. After his retirement, he attended California Divinity School of the Pacific, where he became a deacon in the Episcopal Church. He w as soon ordained as a priest and later made Canon of St. Pauls Cathedral in Los Angeles. Spencer pursued another career in education and was a teacher at the Harvard School, headmaster of the Texas Military Institute, Southern Arizona School, and Flintridge Preparatory School. In 1975, he founded the Gooden School in Sierra Madre where he served as Headmaster until his retirement in 1988. He remained active as a member of the Gooden School board of directors, a volunteer docent at the Huntington Library Bot anical Gardens, a member of the Sierra Madre Mountain Conservancy, chaplain of the Sierra Madre Police Department and member of the Mountain Dancers Society. Spencer also continued to remain active as a priest, assisting at the Church of the Ascension in Sierra Madre for many years. Spencer and his wife, Betty Lee, also enjoyed traveling the world, extensively traveling throughout Europe and the Americas. Spencer is survived by his wife of 61 years, Betty Lee, his daughters M'liss Edwards of Morrin, Alberta , Canada, Robin Reidy of Sierra Madre, Libby Brennesholtz of Pleasantville, New York, Megan Edwards of Las Vegas, Alexandra Duffy of Altadena, ten grandchildren and four great- grandchildren. He was predeceased by his son, Cader Charles Edwards. Services will be at the Church of the Ascension in Sierra Madre, 3:00 P.M. on Thursday, April 29, followed by a procession to the Sierra Madre Pioneer Cemetery for graveside services.