Thursday, January 30, 2014

Douglas L Humphrey, BHS 1966

Douglas L Humphrey, 65, of Baldwin Lake passed away Tuesday at Bear Valley Community Hospital.
Mr Humphrey was born and raised in Burbank, graduating from Burbank High School in 1966. Mr Humphrey has been a resident of Baldwin Lake since 1982. He was a Young Antiques Dealer for 45 years and helped create the Burbank Historical Society.


He is survived by his wife, Linda Schutte; 2 sons Wayne Riepe of Baldwin Lake and Nick Riepe of San Bernardino; a sister, Ellen Russell of Kamloops, Canada, and 5 grand. A Celebration of his Life will be held at a later date. Private interment will be held at Forest Lawn Memorial Park, Hollywood Hills. Funeral arrangements entrusted to Big Bear Mortuary.

David Gomez, BHS 1957

David Gomez passed away on December 19, 2013, after a long and hard fought battle with Diabetes.


Born in El Paso, Texas on August 18, 1939, he moved with his family to Burbank, California in 1941. He attended Burbank High School, and after graduation, enlisted in the US Army and served as an 82nd Airborne Division Para Trooper. Upon his return from the Army, he obtained a degree from LATrade Tech and worked at Gray Bar Electric for a few years, until finally finding his place with Berg Electric as a Project Manager for 30+ years until his retirement.


He married Carmela De Palo in 1965 and settled in Burbank, to raise their three children, David, Jennifer, and Mark, who all have continued ties in the Burbank community.


He is survived by his wife of 48 years, three children, three grandchildren, Jacob, Mason and Henry, and his beloved dog “Daisy”. A Memorial will be held in his honor on Saturday, January 25, 2014 at 11 am at St. Finbar in Burbank.

William F. Askins, BHS 1950

William F. Askins, BHS 1950

Dalles Chronicle, The (The Dalles, OR) - Friday, October 11, 2013

William F. Askins (Bill), 81, died Monday, Oct. 7, 2013, at Providence Hood River Memorial Hospital surrounded by those he loved.

He was born May 27, 1932, in Burbank, Calif., to William and Daisy (Feller) Askins.

He grew up in Burbank, graduating from Burbank High School in 1950. Then he apprenticed to become a machinist, owning his own machine shop for close to 50 years. In the beginning of his career he was a machinist for aircraft being used in the military.

May 1, 1993 William married Marla Daley Robbins at Hood River Valley Christian Church.
He enjoyed fishing, boating, traveling, camping, gambling and loved his desserts.

He is survived by his spouse of 20 years Marla Askins, three children Paul Askins, Hood River; Sara Robbins and her spouse Matthew Lewis, La kewo o d, Wash.; Kenneth Davis and spouse Jana, Lake Oswego; four g r a n d ch i l -dren Sophia Martin, Sabrina Martin, M a t t h e w Martin and Jessica Askins, his sister Jackie Bodley and her spouse Bud, Burbank; brother-in-law Leroy Daley, Parkdale; Niles George and his spouse Rena, Parkdale.

He was preceded in death by his parents William and Daisy (Feller) Askins.

A memorial service is planned for 1 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 12, at Anderson's Tribute Center, 1401 Belmont Ave., Hood River, with a reception to follow. Private family inurnment at Idlewilde Cemetery in Hood River.

Saturday, January 4, 2014

Robert David Espinoza, BHS 1966

Robert David Espinoza, BHS 1966

Robert David Espinoza, passed away Friday, November 29, 2013, surrounded by his family. Over the past 30 years, he endured many illnesses that challenged his abilities, but he always had a positive attitude and outlook on life. Bob was born May 2, 1948, in Los Angeles, California to Robert and Anna Espinoza.

On July 26, 1969, he married his high school sweetheart and love of his life, Donna Colleen Dolan. Bob attended and graduated from Cal State Long Beach in 1973, with a Bachelor's Degree in Mathematics. After graduating they moved to Ventura where he began his teaching career at Oxnard High School. There he would teach for twenty four years, loving what he did and inspiring many students in the process.

Due to health complications, he had to retire early from Oxnard High School. Bob endured many challenges, but the one that affected him the most was Multiple Sclerosis. Although this was very debilitating, he would often refer to the acronym MS as "Math Specialist." His ability to find the silver lining in any situation is something that he radiated with everyone he came in contact with.

He is survived by his wife, Donna; daughter, Camie Granados and her husband Tony, their children, Alyssa, Jacob, Nathan, Joshua, and Jayden all of Orem, Utah; son, Brian Espinoza and his partner Ivan Serdar, their children, Amelia and Sam of Oakland, California ; daughter, Kelly Lowry and her husband Stephen, and their children Joseph and Mick Lowry of Ventura, California.

Bob loved the outdoors, he would roll around the neighborhood in his wheelchair greeting everyone he saw. He enjoyed spending time with his grandchildren and taught them all by his example. Bob loved everyone and always had a smile on his face, no matter how he was feeling. It has often been repeated by many, that he did not have a mean bone in his body.

"Heaven is lucky to have our dad and we will miss him greatly."
Services will be held on Saturday, December 7, 2013, 11:00 am, at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter- Day Saints, 3501 Loma Vista Road, Ventura. Burial will follow at Ivy Lawn Memorial Park. The family has set up The Robert D. Espinoza Memorial Fund with the National Multiple Sclerosis Society.

In lieu of flowers, please help us continue the fight for others with MS. http://main.nationalmssociety.org/goto/RobertEspinoza.
Arrangements are under the direction of the Ted Mayr Funeral Home, 3150 Loma Vista Road, Ventura. Condolences may be left at
TedMayrFuneralHome.com.

Ventura County Star, December 2013

Wednesday, January 1, 2014

Anna L. Olson Bania, BHS 1961

Anna L. Olson Bania, BHS 1961

Anna L. Bania 1943 - 2013

Anna Bania passed away on September 3, 2013 at Backus Hospital in Norwich, CT from Congestive Heart Failure. She had been battling this condition since November of 2012.

She was born December 29, 1943 in Glendale, CA to Roger and Thelma Olson. She grew up in the family home in Burbank, CA. After graduating Burbank High School she attended Coalinga College where she met her husband, William F. Bania. They married in June 1963. They had their only child, William, in February 1964.

After living in several locations in Southern California, the family moved to Oakdale, CT in December 1969. Ann set up house in a newly built house on Leitao Dr.Ann worked at various jobs in and around the area, first working at the local elementary school, Fair Oaks, then Gorra Brothers in Waterford, and finally at Montville Town Hall. In 1980 she divorced her husband and shepherded her son through the final three years of high school.

She met Frank Kohanski along the way and they became inseparable companions for the rest of her life. They traveled the world and went to Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, and took many cruises including a cruise to Alaska which her parents had done 40 years before. They enjoyed attending the Norwich Grange and various other activities in the Norwich area. For the past 9 years she and Frank would spend ½ year in Norwich, CT and the other ½ with her family in Redding, CA. She had bought a house next to her son. Sadly she only spent three weeks in the house before going back to Norwich in May of this year. When in Redding, CA she enjoyed the company of the ladies at the Shasta Stitchers.

Ann adored and fawned over her "three little women." Her three granddaughters thought the world of her and she thought the world of them. She would tell them stories of her adventures and often joked about the Three Sisters Bakery, a fictional bakery that served some very odd dishes at home.

She leaves behind her only child and his family in Redding, CA: William (son) and Carla Bania (Daughter in law), Elizabeth, Rebecca and Emily Bania (Granddaughters); as well as her inseparable companion Frank Kohanski. She also leaves behind a sister, Karin, in Tucson, AZ and two nieces Kelly and Lisa and their families.
She always had a smile on her face and always wanted people to be happy. Her last wish is for everybody to do something nice for somebody every day. A memorial service in Redding will be planned in the near future. In lieu of flowers, please honor my mother by doing something nice for somebody today. Please sign the guestbook at http://obituaries.redding.com

Redding Record Searchlight, Oct. 19, 2013