John L. Tanner, a well respected educator in the valley, passed away Easter morning at the age of 96. Born on November 20, 1917 in Union Star Missouri, John moved to Arizona in 1936 to attend Flagstaff State College (NAU) in Flagstaff, Arizona. In July of 1941, he married Ella Blakely, and Arizona native from Gilbert, and they moved to the Grand Canyon where he was a Park Ranger. During World War 2 he served as a bombardier aboard a B-17 where he developed a passion for flying. His teaching career in Arizona began in 1946 as a teacher of business in Hayden High School. In 1949 He became Superintendent for the Gilbert Schools and 1953 he became the first Principle of Camelback High School. In 1966 he became Superintendent of the Scottsdale School System. John loved donating his time to flying with his students at the P.U.H.D. Flight School at Sky Harbor and playing golf with his many teaching associates. John in Survived by his two sons and spouses, John and Susan Tanner, Ken and Daniele Tanner, five grandchildren, Tari Jo, Jim and his wife Jill, Mark, Tom, and David, and two great grandchildren, Jacob and Jazlyn. Memorial Services will be held on Tuesday, April 29, 2014 at Mountain View Funeral Home and Cemetery, 7900 E. Main St., Mesa, Arizona at 10:00am.