Obituary

Elanne Sue Schultz (née Scott)
August 21, 1928 – April 22, 2025

Elanne Sue Schultz, lovingly known as “Sue,” passed away peacefully on April 22, 2025, in Temecula, California, at the age of 96. A devoted wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, teacher, and friend, Sue lived a full and inspiring life grounded in love, faith, service, and family.

Sue was born on August 21, 1928, in Toledo, Ohio, to Dr. Harry Mast Scott, a physician, surgeon, and U.S. Army Colonel in World War II, and Helen Elaine Campbell, a Ohio State University graduate. She was the eldest of three children, with younger siblings Andy and Marcia.

Sue attended Northwestern University, where fate seated her alphabetically next to her future husband, Eugene “Gene” Wilbur Schultz, in chemistry lab. Gene, a proud Marine who served in the Pacific Theater during WWII, was attending Northwestern on the GI Bill. Sue was a Delta Gamma and Gene a Phi Kappa Sigma. They fell in love and graduated together—Sue with a BA in Education and Gene with a BA in Business—then married on July 15, 1950, at Hope Lutheran Church, in Toledo.

The young couple began their life together in Santa Maria, California, where Sue taught school before the couple returned to Toledo. There, Gene earned his BS in Pharmacy from Toledo University, graduating Magna Cum Laude. They later settled in Southern California, raising three daughters—Joan, Marcia, and Sandy— first in Los Angeles, then Northridge, and finally Burbank.

While Gene worked as a pharmacist, Sue returned to teaching in 1971 and earned her Master’s in Education (MA ELED) from California State University, Northridge in 1975. A passionate educator, she taught until her retirement in 1990. Sue and Gene proudly saw all three daughters graduate from UCLA.

After the 1994 Northridge earthquake, Gene and Sue relocated to Laguna Niguel to be closer to their daughters. Gene passed away in 1998 from cancer, but Sue continued to live life with vibrancy and purpose. She held leadership roles in the Republican Women of Orange County Federated, the South Shores Church Widows Group, the Breakers Homeowners Association, and various community service organizations. She volunteered at Mission Hospital, taught Sunday School at Westside Christian Fellowship, participated in children’s reading programs at Camp Pendleton, and enjoyed golfing, knitting, playing the piano, riding her e-bike, and spending cherished time with her family.

Sue’s greatest joy was her family. She is lovingly remembered by her daughters Joan (Kent), Marcia (Bryan), and Sandy (Greg); her grandchildren Dayna, Amy, Elise, Justin, Spencer, Bryanna, Michael, and Sarah; and her 15 great-grandchildren: Hadley, Chloe, Will, Brooklyn, Noah, William, Ryah, Andre, Regen, Lander, Skylar, Sawyer, Shepard, Sloane, and Charlie.

Sue spent her final year at Atria Retirement Home in Temecula, enjoying daily walks, swimming, reading books, and the company of friends and loved ones.

Sue’s legacy is one of grace, resilience, kindness, and unwavering devotion to her family and faith. She touched countless lives as a teacher, mentor, volunteer, and matriarch, and she will be deeply missed.

A celebration of Sue’s life will be held June 21, 2025 at 2:00 pm at O’Connor Mortuary in Laguna Hills, CA.

The family appreciates your prayers, thoughts and condolences. Should you wish to send flowers for the service you can have them delivered directly to O’Connor Mortuary by June 20th.