Charles George "Chuck" Steurer, BHS 1942

Charles George "Chuck" Steurer, BHS 1942

Chester resident Charles George "Chuck" Steurer peacefully passed from this life with his wife at his side Monday morning, December 10th, 2012 at Enloe Medical Center in Chico, CA at the age of 88.

Born September 11, 1924 in Los Angeles, CA to the late Charles Jacob and Viola Vesta (Chadwick) Steurer he was raised and educated in Southern California graduating from Burbank High School as a member of the "Class of 1942". He enlisted in the U.S. Navy at the age of 17 after obtaining his parents permission and was trained in electrical hydraulics. Assigned to the USS Williamson a destroyer that had no hydraulics he served as a gunners mate in the Asian and South Pacific taking part in the battles of Esperitos Santos, The New Hubertus and Guam.

Upon his honorable discharge he returned home and enrolled in Glendale Junior College where he obtained a degree in Structural Engineering. He soon began what became a forty five year career as a building contractor and commercial lath and plasterer, retiring in 1986.

In 1947 Chuck married Pat Palstine and to this union a son and daughter were born.

Chuck was an accomplished trap shooter who was a member of the Pacific Trap Shooting Association as well as Valencia, CA area trap clubs and was a charter member of the Antelope Gun Club of Quartz Hill, CA. He maintained a top ten position amongst his competitors. Following the death of Chuck's second wife, Nancy Barnett he took up upland game bird hunting especially hunting Chucker, Quail, Pheasants and Dove in Mexico with his ever faithful bird dogs as well as continuing his life long passion of fishing the streams and rivers of California.

At this time he also took up the sport of bowling and it is through this that Chuck met his sweetheart, Carolyn. The couple was united in matrimony in October of 1983 and the couple relocated to the Northeastern California community of Chester on Easter Sunday 1987.

Raised as a Master Mason in April of 1989 as a member of the Westwood Lodge #501 he went on to join the Lake Almanor Shrine Club where he served as President from 1993-1994 and was honored with the Shrine Medal of Honor in 1995. He served as Double Eagle Scottish Rite Club President in 1997, was Raban of the Dogtown Hillbilly Clan #114 in 2006 served as Worthy Patron of the Westwood Chapter #366 Order of Eastern Star from1999, 2001 and 2002, and also served as Worthy Patron of the Sincerity Chapter #53 of the Order of Eastern Star in 2007 and 2008. The Mason's highest honor, that of the Hiram Award was bestowed upon Chuck as a member of the Greenville Sincerity Lodge #132.

Chucks other affiliations include his membership in the Harry Doble American Legion Post #664 of Chester, the Chester-Lake Almanor Senior Citizens Club, the Lassen Shrine Club, the Chester Elks Lodge #2626, the Feather River Shrine Club and the Feather River Scottish Rite Club.

In passing Chuck leaves his loving wife; Carolyn of Chester, CA, daughter; Susan and her husband Jerry Sledge of Hidden Valley Lake, CA, son; Mark Steurer of Santa Cruz, CA, grandsons; Jesse Sledge of Santa Rosa, CA and Justin Sledge and his wife, Jessica and his great grandchildren Audrey, Mia and Madison Sledge all of Camano Island WA. He is also survived by a brother; Earl Steurer and his wife Ruth of Granada Hills, CA, step children; Sally Barnett of Santa Maria, CA, Rob Worthington of Klamath Falls, OR, Lisa and husband Fernando Lopez of Simi Valley, CA, Kimberly and husband Rusty Mays of Huntersville, NC and step grandchildren Chris Lopez of Davis, CA and Vanessa Lopez of Simi Valley, CA.

Masonic memorial services will take place 11:00AM Saturday, December 15th, 2012 at the Greenville Masonic Lodge of Sincerity Chapter #132 of the Free and Accepted Masons. Private inurnment will take place in the Chester District Cemetery. An opportunity to express your condolences to the family along with signing the memorial guest register is available online at www.fehrmanmortuary.com. Any remembrances of Chuck can be made to the Shriner's Children's Hospital of Sacramento c/o Fehrman Mortuary and Crematory P.O. Box 803 Greenville, CA 95947.

Paul Eugene Ward, BHS 1956

Paul Eugene Ward, BHS 1956

Was born June 25, 1938 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma to his parents, H.C. and Ruth Ward. He passed away the afternoon of November 21, 2012 the day he and his wife, Cindy, celebrated 56 years of marriage.

Paul is also survived by his daughter, Robin Aspinall and son-in-law Tim Aspinall of Upland, son Craig Ward and daughter-in- law, Evelyn of Menifee, and son Daryl Ward of Ontario. He is also survived by his grandchildren Kristen (Heil) Owen, Christopher Ward, Lauren Heil, Chance Ward, Kaela Ward, Kori Ward, Sean Aspinall, Tristin Muth, great-grandson Tyler Owen, sister Ida Riddle of Texas, brother Fred Ward of Pennsylvania and several nieces and nephews.

The Ward family moved to Southern California from Oklahoma in 1942 where Paul attended schools in Van Nuys and Burbank, eventually graduating from Burbank High School. Paul played football, basketball, and baseball where he caught the eye of the coaches at the University of Redlands. He played football and baseball at Redlands where he and Cindy married while he was a student there.

Upon leaving Redlands in 1961, he began a stellar career in education in the Whittier Joint Union High School District where he taught History and English and coached football and baseball. He then became an Assistant Principal at Walnut High and Diamond Bar High School. Chaffey District called in 1983 and he served as Principal at Ontario High School, Alta Loma High School, and he had the privilege of opening Rancho Cucamonga High School. Since retirement, Paul has enjoyed golfing with his "buds" and spending time with his grandchildren. Paul's infectious smile and great sense of humor will be sorely missed.

Services will be held on Saturday, December 1, at 11:00am at Life Bible Fellowship Church, 2426 N. Euclid Avenue, Upland, CA. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made in Paul's name to the GAP Food Bank c/o Life Bible Fellowship Church.

Published in Inland Valley Daily Bulletin on November 28, 2012

Bonnie Jean Conkwright Day, BHS 1943

Bonnie Jean Conkwright Day, BHS 1943

BONNIE JEAN DAY Born at Hollywood Hospital November 17, 1925, to Sidney Graham and Faun Conkwright. Taken from our lives unexpectedly on October 29, 2003. Bonnie was a long time resident of Burbank where she graduated from Burbank High School in 1943. During the early 1940's, she worked as a silversmith, attended UCLA, and worked as a dental assistant.

Bonnie became a Real Estate agent in 1962, a Real Estate broker in 1965 and was a past president of the Burbank Board of Realtors. She was co-owner of Griffith Park Realty along with her mother, Faun. Bonnie was a proud member of the Glendale Church of Religious Science for 34 years. For many years Bonnie had enjoyed working as a volunteer usher at the Pasadena Playhouse and the Alex Theater in Glendale. However her true passions in life were her love of travel and of golf, but above all her love of family. Bonnie was a thoughtful, giving, loving person who, throughout her life, exhibited the values of her parents; honesty, integrity, and steadfastness. She was eternally positive in all aspects of her life.

She is survived by her brother, Sidney (Shirley) Conkwright; children, Robyn (John) Lunt, Gayle Ann Frank, Michael (Joan) Day, and was preceded in death by son, Bradley Day. Grandchildren are Robert Brito, Stacy Brito, Graham Phelps, Colin Phelps, Alison Day and Erin Day and 4 great-grandchildren.

A Memorial Service will be held to celebrate her life at the Glendale Church of Religious Science, 2146 E. Chevy Chase Dr., Glendale, on Tuesday, November 25, 2003 at 1:00 p.m. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Glendale Church of Religious Science.

Published in Los Angeles Daily News on November 19, 2003

Fred Herschel McClellan, BHS 1940

Fred Herschel McClellan, BHS 1940

Fred Herschel McClellan, 63, resident of Burbank since 1923; graduate of Burbank high School 1940; World War II Air Force veteran; died in San Diego, CA October 7, 1983.


He retired as an engineer from Caltrans after 25 years of service. Since 1979, he operated his own tax consulting business in San Diego.

Survivors include his wife, Rosemary; his son, Larry; brothers, Malcolm and Hugh; nephews, Steven and Douglas.

Services Thursday, October 13, 11 a.m. at Church of the Hills, Forest Lawn Hollywood Hills. Slumber Room visitation will be on Wednesday. Donations may be made to the American Cancer Society.

Published in the Los Angeles Times, October 11, 1983