Lyndon Lambeth
1959 – 2025
1959 – 2025
1961 – 1 years old
1981 – 21 years old
Engaged
1981 – 21 years old
Wedding Day
1990 – 30 years old
Lyndon and the Edwards “the wave”
1996 – 36 years old
Lyndon and Lauren on the boat.
1996 – 36 years old
Lyndon on the water, as usual.
1997 – 37 years old
Baby Geoffrey sleeping in Lyndon’s arms.
2000 – 40 years old
So Tired
2016 – 56 years old
Father’s Day Strawberry Shortcake
2024 – 64 years old
Pocket Charlie
2024 – 64 years old
Happy on the Water
Lyndon Lambeth (1959-2025) passed away at home April 27, 2025. He is survived by his wife of 44 years, Diana, three adult children, Lauren, Geoffrey and Bailey, a granddaughter Zoe, two older siblings Larry and Lora, and nieces and nephews who he adored.
Before he went to dental school, Lyndon spent several years working with his dad Lydell and spoke fondly of the time he got to spend working with him on a development project in Coeur d'Alene. Lyndon graduated dental school in 1990 and worked in Phoenix and Ventura before he began practicing dentistry in Santa Barbara in 1992.
He was known for his deep care for his patients and his passion for providing access to dental care within his community. He was actively involved in his local Dental Society because he believed that was a way of creating and taking care of the community.
His greatest loves were his children and granddaughter, and he had an obsession with being on the water and was an avid boater. He often recalled his happiest childhood memory of sitting at the front of his dad’s boat. While in dental school, he began sailing a catamaran where he enjoyed many hours with his family and classmates. Over the years he could always be found at the helm of his boat ready to share his passion for the water with those he loved. Countless weekends were spent in pursuit of dolphins or whales, and he was always up for the adventure of heading out onto the water. He also loved road trips (as long as he could be the driver) especially if it took him to snow skiing or the ocean. He had a humorous side which showed up in silly faces in photos and quick response to many situations with a silly song.
June 22, 2025
A celebration of life will be held for Lyndon Lambeth Sunday, June 22, 5 PM at Rincon State Beach. Casual Attire. Cookies and juice will be served. All are welcome!
In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to the Santa Barbara–Ventura County Dental Society Foundation by calling 805-648-7282.
December 1959
Lyndon was born on December 11, 1959 in San Bernardino, CA and grew up in Redlands, CA. His fondest childhood memories were of time he spent on the Balboa Peninsula, where his mom Beverly’s, parents, Jay and Geneva lived. He often went to Newport Beach and reminisced about the carefree days he spent there as a child. He remembers learning to sail a little sabot and sailing all around the Newport Harbor. He remembered feeling most relaxed and happy there on the water.
1961 – 1 years old
1961 – 1 years old
1962 – 2 years old
1967 – 7 years old
Lyndon in the 3rd Grade
1971 – 11 years old
Lyndon, Larry and Lora
1972 – 13 years old
Christmas 1972. Lyndon kept these weights until Diana threw them out—very broken—in 2018.
1973 – 13 years old
1973 – 13 years old
Lyndon’s first date
January 1979
Lyndon and Diana met at Pacific Union College near Napa, CA in 1979. He called to ask her on a date, not because he wanted a date, but because his good friend asked him to so they could see if she would go out with someone else. They became good friends in spite of that and began spending a lot of time together. In the winter of 1979 he began calling Diana to play Eagles and Styx songs over the phone, to cheer her up. Their first date was a Styx concert. A month later they were in a car accident which lead to Diana’s return home for recovery. During that time, they began speaking on the phone each day, Diana was not interested in anything serious But when she returned to college after healing from the car accident, in his persistent way he won her over. They were married in June of 1981. They believed they were meant to be together and wrote their vows as a way of clarifying the vision they had for their partnership.
1979 – 19 years old
Always ready to carry everyones things
1979 – 19 years old
At the beach
1981 – 21 years old
Engaged
1981 – 21 years old
Wedding Day
1981 – 21 years old
Wedding Vows
June 1981
After getting married Lyndon and Diana spent a summer in Coeur d’Alene Idaho where they were able to spend many idyllic days of water skiing on the lake and enjoying the Spokane River. Over the next few years spent a lot of time with Diana’s nephews which became important to him and he made sure there was time to do fun things with them whenever possible. They moved back and forth between Southern CA and the Coeur d’Alene area until Lyndon decided to go back to college and get in to dental school.
1982 – 22 years old
Lyndon loved water skiing
April 1983
2 years into the marriage Lyndon fell in love with a baby cocker spaniel puppy “Dusty”. He found her in a pet store and had to take her home. She became his first kid, he adored her and took her everywhere.
1983 – 23 years old
Dusty in the car with Lyndon
1983 – 23 years old
Dusty goes everywhere with Lyndon
1983 – 23 years old
The Spokane House
June 1983
Lyndon spent a number of years working with his dad on a development project in Coeur d'Alene Idaho. It was while working with his dad that he decided to go back to college and get into Dental School. He loved the challenge of it from the beginning and spent 2 years taking the science courses he had skipped previously.
1983 – 23 years old
Hawaii at Christmas
1985 – 25 years old
March 1986
Lyndon and Diana’s first child, Lauren was born as Lyndon was receiving dental school acceptances. Having Lauren was something he had been wanting. When she was born he was horrified that his mother in law kept taking the baby from him. By the time she was 2 he had her sailing with him.
1986 – 26 years old
Holding Lauren First Day
1986 – 26 years old
August 1986
Lyndon began dental school when Lauren was 7 months old. He loved being Lauren’s dad and carried her with him through the whole orientation to dental school. His dental classmates all got to know his daughter because he took her to labs and meetings whenever he could. He worked hard in dental school and enjoyed his time there with friends. Early on in dental school, Lyndon found a cheap catamaran and could be found Friday afternoon’s sailing at Lake Perris with his classmates and family. He also found time on breaks from school to go to Disneyland and Magic Mountain with family and nephews. Since Diana was in grad school at the same time Lyndon was in dental school, they both shared the child care and their time together was limited. They made a pact to have lunch together most days since that was the only reliable time they both had free. Lyndon completed dental school in 1990 and worked in Arizona and Ventura, CA prior to purchasing Dr. Renn’s practice in Santa Barbara.
1989 – 29 years old
Making it through the dental school years
1990 – 30 years old
Palm Springs
1990 – 30 years old
Goofy Glasses cuz it can’t be to serious after all that work
1990 – 30 years old
Dental School Graduation
1990 – 30 years old
Lyndon and the Edwards “the wave”
1990 – 30 years old
Raging Waters with Brian and Steven
1992 – 32 years old
Lyndon helping Lauren and Diana climb a tree.
1995 – 35 years old
Lyndon and Lauren.
1996 – 36 years old
Lyndon and Lauren on the boat.
1996 – 36 years old
Everyone in the family has at least one bad photo eating corn. Here’s one of Lyndon.
1996 – 36 years old
Lyndon and Lauren car picnic.
1996 – 36 years old
1996 – 36 years old
Lyndon and Lauren dying eggs.
1996 – 36 years old
Lyndon on the water, as usual.
1996 – 36 years old
What a mischievous look on Dad’s face
May 1997
After Lauren was born Lyndon & Diana had almost given up on having another child, however, they were delighted when 11 years later when Geoffrey was born. Lyndon happily came home every evening to rock Geoffrey through a recurring colicky hour. It wasn’t long before Lyndon got Geoffrey on the water hoping his kids would come to love it as much as he did. As Geoffrey grew up Lyndon taught Geoffrey to sail, and later they both got certified to sail big boats.
1997 – 37 years old
1997 – 37 years old
Dad and Geoffrey build bean poles
1997 – 37 years old
Baby Geoffrey sleeping in Lyndon’s arms.
1997 – 37 years old
Baby Geoffrey on Lyndon’s shoulders.
1998 – 38 years old
Camping at Trinity Lake
March 1999
21 months after Geoffrey, Bailey was born. Bailey spent the first two weeks after she was born in the NICU, Lyndon always claimed he only slept about 2 hours a day through that time so he could be at the hospital with her as much as possible. Keeping with tradition, Lyndon had Bailey on the water when she was just a couple months old. It didn’t take him long to convince her that the water was the best place to be. It was music to his ears when Bailey would ask, “Daddy, is it a boating morning?”. Whenever it was a boating morning, Lyndon and Diana, and the kids would stop to get doughnuts (sometimes) and then head to the the boat to go out looking for dolphins, and if it was an extra special day they might find a whale.
2000 – 40 years old
So Tired
2000 – 40 years old
Family 4th of July
2002 – 42 years old
2003 – 43 years old
Pumpkin Carving with Geoffrey
2003 – 43 years old
Thanksgiving Day at the Beach
2003 – 43 years old
Always Yellow Cake with Chocolate Frosting
2003 – 43 years old
Celebrating Lyndon’s Birthday
2003 – 44 years old
Christmas Fun
2004 – 44 years old
A Dalmation Plantation
2005 – 45 years old
Daddy and Bailey Making Pancakes
2005 – 45 years old
Quad Riding with Geoffrey
2005 – 45 years old
Fun with Geoffrey
2006 – 46 years old
Orcas Island~and a good glass of wine
2006 – 46 years old
Snow skiing with Geoffrey, Bailey and Chris
2006 – 46 years old
2006 – 46 years old
25th Anniversary Celebration
June 2006
For many years, Lyndon’s greatest hope was to retire on one of the islands outside Seattle. He loved the idea of a mellow life with lots of time for his kids. In 2007 he and Diana decided to make it happen and the family moved from Santa Barbara to Bainbridge Island. It turned out Lyndon didn’t appreciate the clouds and rain as much as he had imagined and he missed his Santa Barbara life and patients. In 2009 Lyndon and the family returned to Santa Barbara, where he has been happy ever since.
2006 – 46 years old
Picnic
2007 – 47 years old
2008 – 48 years old
Snow skiing at Whistler
2008 – 48 years old
Fun at the beach
2008 – 48 years old
With his mom and dad on Bainbridge
2008 – 48 years old
Alaska with his dad, brother Larry, nephews Josh and Chris and Geoffrey
2008 – 48 years old
Halloween Fun with family
2009 – 49 years old
Kayaking on Bainbridge
2010 – 50 years old
Playing Croquet
2010 – 50 years old
Sailing with Geoffrey
2011 – 51 years old
Zip Line Kauai with Geoffrey and Bailey
March 2012
Lyndon’s granddaughter Zoe came into his life as a huge gift. He adored her from the moment he saw her and was the only one she would allow to rock her to sleep at night. He was very proud of that. His desire to see her grow up and excel in whatever she wanted to do kept him active clear to the end of his life. He frequently traveled with her to her gymnastic meets, shared his love of the water and taught her to drive remote control boats and real boats. When they weren’t at gymnastics meets, you could often find them cruising around the harbor together in the dingy.
2012 – 52 years old
Beach Walk
2012 – 52 years old
Gramps and Zoë hanging out
2012 – 52 years old
Zoë and Gramps checking out boats for sale
2012 – 52 years old
Balboa Pier with Bailey
2012 – 52 years old
Zoë Riding on Gramps Shoulders
2012 – 53 years old
Christmas Eve Walk at the Beach
2013 – 53 years old
Zoë trying out Gramps shoes
2013 – 53 years old
Happy on the Water
2013 – 53 years old
Boat House with Geoffrey and Bailey
2014 – 54 years old
Fun in Las Vegas with Geoffrey and Bailey
2014 – 54 years old
Checking out the motorcycle
2014 – 54 years old
Waiting for a good breakfast
2014 – 54 years old
Breakfast in Scottsdale
2014 – 54 years old
With his Mom
2014 – 54 years old
With his siblings in Sedona
2014 – 54 years old
Boat Trip
2014 – 54 years old
At the Show
2015 – 55 years old
Grand Canyon Trip
2015 – 55 years old
Ice skating with Zoë
2016 – 56 years old
Binging Downton Abbey with Diana and Zoë
2016 – 56 years old
Father’s Day Strawberry Shortcake
2016 – 56 years old
Gramps and Zoë Driving the boat
2016 – 56 years old
2017 – 57 years old
Gramps and Zoë watching fireworks
2017 – 58 years old
Gramps and Zoë decorating the Christmas Tree
2019 – 59 years old
Gramps and Zoë dancing
2023 – 63 years old
Creating new Canvas for the boat
2023 – 63 years old
San Diego for Gymnastics State Championships
2024 – 64 years old
Lunch at Ruby’s Diner on Balboa Pier
April 2024
Lyndon has always been a sucker for a cute puppy and is known for sending family members adorable pictures of boxer puppies. In 2024 Diana gave up her rigid “no more dogs” stance and Lyndon brought wonderful, bouncy, excited Charlie into his life. Charlie adored him and he loved her.
2024 – 64 years old
Pocket Charlie
2024 – 64 years old
Charlie Love
2024 – 64 years old
Happy on the Water