Kenneth Showalter

Kenneth Harold Showalter was born April 3, 1944, in Santa Monica, CA, to Harold & Johnnie Showalter and big sister, Kay. The family moved to Westchester when Ken was a small child,….where Ken lived with his parents.He went to elementary school and junior high in Westchester, graduating from Westchester High School in 1962. He attended Pepperdine for a short time, but decided school wasn’t for him, and joined the Air Force. He served in Japan and Hawaii, marrying Sharyn Ann Graham on October 22, 1966, and together they were sent to Oklahoma where Ken finished his tour of duty. When he left the Air Force, they returned to California, making their home in El Segundo. Ken decided to try school again, returning to college at El Camino Junior College and transferred back to Pepperdine where he graduated in 1970 with a BS degreein Business. He went to work for Pepperdine in the recruiting office while he completed a Masters in Business Administration in 1972.With Brooke and Brian in tow he and Sharyn bought their first house in Westchester, where they made their home until moving a short time later to Orange County to be closer to Ken’s work. Beth was born soon after the move to Orange County and a final move was made to Garden Grove, where they have lived for 36 years.Ken worked as Registrar for George Pepperdine College. He worked for Douglass Aircraft, Santa Fe International Oil Company, General Dynamics and finished his working career with the County of Los Angeles.When he wasn’t working, he was umpiring men’s softball, golfing, going to Angel games, golfing, watching every sport on television except figure skating, and at the end ... dreaming of golfing. After suffering 20 years of Angels heartache, the pinnacle of his sporting life was when he, and his son, Brian, attended games 6 and 7 of the 2002 World Series and witnessed the Angels winning their first World Championship. He loved being with friends, laughing, telling jokes , and watching Jeopardy and Wheel of Fortune.He always had a special place in his heart for little children and teenagers. The little ones at church adored him, but he always seemed to get them in trouble, one way or another. He understood teenagers and was was known by some as “the Park Ranger,” by others as “a pest” and by all as a jokester.Though his health deteriorated, and he could no longer do the things he loved, he maintained a positive attitude and rarely complained. His cardiologist said that Ken was one of most seriously ill patients he had, yet he didn’t give up and was always researching a way to get well.Ken went to be with the Lord on Sunday, May 29, 2011, and is survived by Sharyn, his wife of nearly 45 years; daughter, Brooke and her husband, Brett, and sons, Cooper and Carter of Fort Worth, TX.; son Brian and his wife, Amy and daughters, Abby and Mallory, ofFrisco, TX.; and daughter, Beth and her husband Kenneth, of Garden Grove, and theirchildren Elisa, Kyle, Rachel and Baby, expected in November; as well as his sister Kay and her husband Joe, of Hermosa Beach, CA; and Ken's faithful companion Macy, a 7-year-old Labrador.There will be a visitation on Thursday, June 2, 2011, 6-8pm at the Long Beach Church of Christ in Long Beach, California. Ken will be laid to rest during a private service on Friday. A memorial service to celebrate Ken's life will be held at 11:00am on Saturday, June 4, 2011 at Long Beach Church of Christ in Long Beach, California. Services: 11:00AM at Long Beach Church of Christ on Saturday, June 4th, 2011 (map/driving directions)