James Edward Carson, BHS 1967

Aqua Dulce / Acton Country Journal January 4, 2014. 

In Loving Memory of James Edward Carson January 23, 1949 - December 2, 2013

James Edward Carson, a longtime resident of Acton, passed away December 2, 2013, at his home. James was a pillar of strength to his family. He is survived by his wife of 46 years, Alma; his son, James; his daughter, Jamie; his grandchildren Jamie, Ricky, Michael, Kyle, Jason, Odessa, Ashley, Brandon and Preston; and four great grandchildren, Marley, Sean, Brayden and Alice. 

Jim was born in Indianapolis, Indiana, on January 23, 1949. He was the son of Arthella Farrell Carson and Walter Carson. He had five sisters - Gloria, Helen, Lori, Rena and Terri - and one brother, Jeff.

Jim's family moved to California in the 50s, settling in Glendale. Jim attended John Muir Junior High and Burbank High School. It was at Burbank High that he met the love of his life, Alma. They fell into deep, inseparable love for each other and got married a year after high school. 

After graduation, Jim pursued his passion for trucking and decided to start his own business. He initially partnered with his father but eventually branched out on his own. He was successful and garnered the opportunity to work for the City of Los Angeles as a contract owner-operator where he made many lifelong friends. Jim's passion for kids was evident in his baseball coaching. He started in Sylmar and continued on into Acton where he coached his kids and grand-kids at the Sierra Little League. He also dedicated his time to the Acton Arrow

Betty Gene Paul Deken, BHS 1930

Betty Dieken October 25, 1912 - January 22, 2015 Resided in Clive, IA Funeral services for Betty Gene Paul Dieken, 102, will be held on Tuesday, January 27, 2015 at 1:30 pm at Engelkes-Abels Funeral Home in Grundy Center, Iowa. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service. A Private Burial will be held at Rose Hill Cemetery in Grundy Center. Refreshments will be served immediately following the service at Bethany Presbyterian Church in Grundy Center. -------------Betty was born to Bess Marie Aldrich Paul and Harry Hulbert Paul on October 25, 1912 in Dallas County, Iowa. She passed away on Thursday, January 22, 2015 at the Kavanaugh House on 56th Street in Des Moines, Iowa. Betty grew up on the farm in Dallas County, but spent several years in Burbank, CA, where her family moved for the health of older sister, Maxine. Betty graduated from Burbank High School in 1930, where she was captain of the basketball team and the valedictorian of her class. ----------------In 1934, she graduated from Iowa State Teachers College (UNI) with a degree in Physical Education, at a time when most young women did not go to college. Betty was very active in Orchesis (dance), Women's Athletic Association, and Scholastic Society; and during a couple of summers, she worked in the lodge at Yellowstone National Park. She started teaching in Redfield, IA, for $75.00 a month, and then she got a call from the Grundy Center Schools to start a physical education program there. She taught for two more years then married Arthur V. Dieken on June 5, 1937. To this union were born 3 children: Judy Marie, Jane Elizabeth, and John Paul.------------- Betty was very active in her Grundy Center Life. She helped start the Girl Scouts in Grundy Center, led a Brownie troop, led a Cub Scout den, was president of the PTA, was president of the Grundy Women's Club, was Worthy Matron of Eastern Star, and helped start a chapter of Rainbow Girls. She was a member of Bethany Presbyterian Church and was very active in her Women's Circle and on other church committees. She also did

substitute teaching, and was a member of First Towners, an adult county extension group that enjoyed cooking, sewing and craft activities. ---------Other hobbies included watching all sports, going golfing, and dancing ballroom style, all of which she enjoyed with Art, and continued to enjoy after his death in the summer of 1977. Betty and Art also enjoyed spending winters in Arizona and doing a bit of traveling to other countries. Betty continued both, becoming quite a world traveler. She will long be remembered for her adventurous and fun loving spirit, as well as her abundance of energy! ------------Those left to cherish Betty's memory are daughter Judy (Tom) Newell of Urbandale, daughter Jane Hardcastle, and son John (Valeria) Dieken both of West Des Moines; grandchildren, Jill Stansbury, Lorie (Neil) Torpey, John Flater, Eric (Boli) Flater, Elizabeth Hardcastle, Michelle (Jeff) Krile, Judd (Jennifer) Hardcastle, Jordan Dieken, and Aaron Dieken; 12 great grandchildren; sister-in-law, Mary Ellen Paul; and numerous nieces and nephews. Betty was preceded in death by her parents, Bess and Harry Paul; 3 sisters, Kathryn, Dorothy, and Maxine Paul; 1 brother, Dr. Aldrich Paul; and her husband, Art Dieken. The family would like to thank Silvercrest at Woodlands Creek Assisted Living and Memory Care, as well as Kavanaugh House for Betty's excellent care. Memorial contributions may be made to: Bethany Presbyterian Church, 315 G Avenue, Grundy Center, IA. 50638.

Randall "Randy" Nile Ivey, BHS 1970

RANDALL "RANDY" NILE IVEY December 16, 1951 - July 26, 2014 Randy passed away Saturday morning, July 26,2014 at 10:00 A.M. at the rehab facility in North Hills (formerly Sepulveda), where he had been transferred to about five days earlier after five weeks in the hospital since Father's Day, June 15. Randy was born December 16, 1951 in Glendale at Glendale Adventist Hospital, then known as Glendale Sanitarium. He was the middle of three children in the family, just less than a year younger than his sister, Debbie (who later became Debi Dyer), and two years older than his brother, Mike. The family moved to Burbank when Randy was in 4th grade, and he attended 4th, 5th, and 6th grades at Washington Elementary in Burbank, then John Muir and Burbank High. His passing came less than four days after Carole passed away on July 22, and two weeks and a day before their

40th anniversary on August 10. He and Carole were both 62. ------------------------------------------ Randy is survived by his family who loved him very much, daughter Megan; son Travis; daughter-in-law Christine "Tina"; granddaughter Makenna; grandson Gavin; brother Mike Ivey, his wife D'aun, and their family; brother-in-law Jim Dyer and his family; and brother-in-law Roger Starkey, his wife Teresa, and their family. Randy's mother passed away in 1997, his father in 2011, and his sister Debi in 2009. -------------- Saturday morning Randy told his nurse that he was hungry. Later after he had had breakfast the nurse went to his room to check on him, and found that Randy had passed away during the few minutes since she last saw him. After his family was notified of his passing they gathered at his room, along with some of Randy and Carole's closest friends, to all say good-bye to Randy. A couple of days earlier Randy's kids told him about Carole's passing earlier in the week, but they don't think he remembered afterwards that Carole was gone. Randy and Carole became a couple in 9th grade in 1967, and now left as a couple only four days apart 47 years later. ----------------- Travis and Megan have not decided when and where a memorial gathering will be held for their parents. They are planning to take Randy and Carole's cremated remains to Hawaii to scatter them there. Travis told me he will let me know whenever something is planned so I can pass it along to you. ---------------------------

I met Randy in our first class the first day of 7th grade at John Muir, actually the first two periods, English and Social Studies. I had been used to always being the tallest and biggest in class, as many of you may remember. Then I arrived at John Muir and in my first class met this "man", Randy!! In another six weeks or so that will be fifty years ago. About five years ago Randy and Carole and I reconnected in a closer friendship. Two and a half years ago during the time I was recovering after surgery from a badly broken ankle and was in a leg cast, in a wheelchair, and couldn't drive, all for seven weeks, Randy and Carole became my primary drivers for my medical appointments, plus took me out for dinner every week. Since that time up to a few months ago we would meet regularly for dinner here in the Santa Clarita Valley where they've lived for 27 years and I've lived for 24 years now. I thought so highly of both of them, and came to love them for their kindness, generosity, and friendship. I'll miss them both very much, but of course nothing compared to the void and huge sorrow their family is enduring right now.---- From Alan Landros, BHS 1970

Luis “Louie” Rey Cardenas, BHS 1945

Luis Rey Cardenas August 25, 1927 - January 21, 2015 Luis “Louie” Cardenas, 87, passed away on the morning of January 21st at Windsor Gardens Healthcare Center in North Hollywood after a brief illness and long battle with dementia. Lou was born to Guadalupe Cardenas and Manuela Losoya in a small house in Burbank. He graduated from Burbank High School in 1945 where he participated in choir and track. He served his country in the US Army during the Korean War from 1951 to 1953. For 32 years, he worked as a Supervisor for the City of Burbank Street Construction and Design section. After retirement, he enjoyed woodworking and watching Track & Field events and Football on TV. He was an avid fan of the UCLA Bruins. Louie could often be seen jogging or walking all over Burbank for many years, reliving his high school days on the track team. A lifelong resident of Burbank, he was known and loved by many friends in the city and had been active in Burbank High Alumni activities. He is survived by daughters, Gwen Cardenas of Glendale, CA., Doris Cardenas-Burrola (John) of Burbank, CA. and son, Christopher Cardenas of Burbank, CA.; grandchildren, Angel Ricciardi, David Diaz, and Christian Burrola; nieces and nephews, Rita Gasco Cardenas, Sam Cardenas, Joseph Cardenas, Francisco “Kiko” Cardenas, Mary Cardenas, Rafael Cardenas, Edmundo Cardenas and Lisa Landeros Zavala; as well as numerous grand- nephews and grand-nieces.

The family wishes to thank Lou’s former wife, Angelina Moore, and the caregivers at Le Bleu Chateau Assisted Living for their compassion and exceptional care during the sunset of Lou’s life. Lou wished to be cremated but a memorial service will be held at Valley Funeral Home in Burbank, CA. on February 12th at 2pm. To express your condolences or access service information you may visit www.valleyfuneralhomeburbank.com Published in the Burbank Leader, February 3, 2015 .

Augostino Licursi, BHS 1941

Augostino Licursi, BHS 1941------------- Augostino Licursi, passed away on November 29, 2014, just one week short of his 92nd birthday. Augie served in the United States Navy during World War II aboard the USS Smalley, DD 565 Destroyer. He and his wife Marian, raised their family in Burbank and would have celebrated their 69th wedding ammiversary in February 2015. Augie was an electrical engineer and spent his career designing and consulting on security systems for large organizations, such as CBS. Augie's three children, Sam Licursi (BHS 64), Pam Licursi Clemons (BHS 66), and Debby Licursi Steelman (BHS 72) all grew up attending Burbank schools. Augie's family and Italian heritage were an important part of his life and he cherished the close bond he had with his family. In addition to his wife and three children, Augie is survived by seven grandchildren and one great-grandchild. He was a kind and gentle man with a wonderful sense of humor. He loved to tell a good story. He will be truly missed by all those who knew and loved him.