James John Davis, BHS 1974

Burbank Leader, Wednesday, August 18, 1993

James John Davis, 38, died August 13, 1993 in his home. Born in Los Angeles, he lived in Burbank his entire life. Mr. Davis was the owner/operator of an art deco retail sales business for 16 years.

He is survived by his parents, John and Olga Davis; and two brothers, Peter of Burbank and Stephen of Long Beach. Funeral services were Tuesday at St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church in Northridge.

Burial was in Forest Lawn Memorial Park, Hollywood Hills, California.

James Wallace Collard, BHS 1969

James Wallace Collard, BHS 1969
Burbank Leader, Saturday, October 14, 1989

James W. Collard, 38, died October 4, 1989 in Burbank. He was born in Winnipeg, Canada, he lived in Burbank for 35 years. He worked as a film technician.

Mr. Collard is survived by his sons, Jason and Travis; mother, Sarah Collard; brother, Doug; sister, Debbie; two nephews; three nieces. The Neptune Society handled arrangements.

Stephen M. Searock, BHS 1956

Stephen M. Searock, May 29, 1938 - June 18, 1961

The Burbank Daily Review, Monday, June 19, 1961

Race Crash Takes Life Of Local Man

A former Burbank High School athlete, Steve Searock, 23, died Sunday of injuries suffered Saturday night when his racer overturned eight times in the California Racing Association's main event at Ascot Stadium, Gardena.

Searock, 2404 N. Brighton Street, went over the wheels of one car onto the back crash wall before his new $6,000 car made eight deadly rolls down the back stretch.

The spectacular accident occurred just after Searock had tangled with another car low on the south turn. He broke away in the infield, where he accelerated and skidded just before the crash. Searock was removed immediately to Gardena Hospital where he died of massive brain injuries at 11:08 a.m. Sunday. He never regained consciousness.

Prior to the race, Searock and his crew were presented an award for the best appearing car and crew. It was only the second time he was driving the car. Ironically, Searock was given a push by a green truck - a color commonly considered a racing jinx - before the race.

He was termed an "up and coming young driver" by CRA president Walt James. Searock, a three-year football and two-year baseball letterman at Burbank High, had been driving for five years, but only one for CRA.

He leaves his widow, Gale and two children, Stephen, 4, and Laurie, 2.

Dennis Hart Blosdale, BHS 1950

DENNIS HART BLOSDALE 

Born December 29, 1931 in Burbank, California. Passed away April 21, 2003 in Bullhead, Arizona. He was 71. Dennis was a resident of Bullhead City, and had worked as a probation officer.

He is survived by his wife, Peggy Blosdale; son, Jon; daughter, Christine; mother, Dorothy Mallory; and sister, Anne Hooper.

He was preceded in death by his father, Franklin; and daughter, Kathryn.

Viewing was held Friday, April 25, 2003. Services will be held on Saturday, April 26, 2003, 2:00 p.m., at Eternal Valley Mortuary Chapel. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Dennis H. Blosdale Memorial Fund, 1802 Soledad Cyn. Rd., #14, Canyon Country, CA 91387. ETERNAL VALLEY MORTUARY Directors 661-259-0800.    

Published in Los Angeles Daily News on Apr. 26, 2003

Michael Frances Sullivan, BHS 1976

Michael Frances Sullivan

Burbank Leader, Wednesday, March 16, 2005

Michael France Sullivan passed away on Monday, March 14, 2005. He was born on August 6, 1958 in Glendale, California and was a resident of Burbank, California for over 46 years. Michael was self-employed in the construction business.

He is survived by his daughters, Erin Sullivan and Kimberly Sullivan as well as a brother, Patrick Sullivan and sister Kathy Himes.

Services will be held at 9:00 a.m. on Friday, March 18th at Hope Lutheran Church located at 1041 East Foothill Blvd in Glendora, California. Services provided by the Valley Funeral Home, Burbank Director.

Leslie T. Beyea, BHS 1931

LESLIE T. BEYEA
March 15, 1911 ~ Jan. 5, 2009

Les Beyea went quietly home to the Lord on the afternoon of January 5, 2009. He had a relatively brief battle with cancer and was blessed to pass away at home and in the loving care of his wife, Pennie.
Les was born nearly 98 years ago and raised in Burbank, California during the time when it was a cradle of American aviation. In his early days, he flew WWI era airplanes and loved aviation till his last days. He spent his vocational life in the Southern California Aerospace Industry and worked on such programs as the Howard Hughes H-4 Hercules Transport, (the Spruce Goose, now located in McMinnville, Oregon) the early American ICBM rocket development programs and the Apollo Space Capsule re-entry systems.

In 1991 he followed his son and family to the Pacific Northwest where he became involved with new friends at Vancouver's First Church of God in Vancouver, Washington. At the tender young age of 82 he and a friend went to Hawaii to help build houses for Habitat for Humanity. He was loved by all because of his joyful spirit that endured even to his last hours.

Les is survived by his wife, Pennie Beyea; his son, John Beyea; his sister, Jeanette Barton; and his two grandchildren, Amy Beyea and Tommy Beyea who were fortunate to enjoy their grandfather into their adult years.
A memorial service was held at the First Church of God, Vancouver, Washington on Thursday, January 15, 2009.

Published in The Columbian, Vancouver, WA on January 11, 2009.

Jeanette Anne Beyea Barton, BHS 1938

Jeanette Anne Beyea Barton
January 19, 1920 - July 8, 2017

Jeanette was born on January 19, 1920 and passed away on Saturday, July 8, 2017. Jeanette was a resident of Burbank, California at the time of passing. She graduated from Burbank High School in 1938 and married Edward J. Barton in 1940.

A viewing and family gathering for Jeanette will be held on Tuesday July 11, 2017 at Hughes Mortuary, 1037 East 700 South, St. George, Utah from 3-5 p.m. Interment will be at the Pierce Brothers Valhalla Memorial Park in North Hollywood, California. Visitation at the Hughes Mortuary from 3:00 PM to 5:00 PM on July 11, 2017.
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JEANETTE ANNE BEYEA BARTON

1920-2017

Jeanette Anne Beyea Barton passed away surrounded by her loving family on July 8, 2017, in St. George, Utah. Jeanette was born in Tucson, Arizona, on January 19, 1920, to Josephine Frances Cook Beyea and Franklin Edgar Beyea. She was one of 6 children; Franklin, Lester, James (twin brother), Mary and Eloise.

The Beyea family moved from Arizona to Burbank, California, in 1920. The family was instrumental in real estate development in the Burbank area having a flight school where the Lockheed Aircraft is now located.

Jeanette was a beautiful, gracious and talented lady. She was an excellent student, athlete, vocalist, and later developed her wonderful artistic talent. She graduated from Burbank High School in 1938 and married Edward J Barton in 1940. They built their dream home at 1920 Oak Street where she resided for 75 years.

Using her artistic talents, she became the interior designer for Boles-Aero Travel Trailers. She was very active in the Burbank Art Association and enjoyed the friendship of many wonderful women through the Pickwick Ladies group.

She is preceded in death by her husband, parents, brothers and sisters, . She is survived by her two children, Diana Christopherson (Kent), and James Barton (Patty), five grandchildren and 16 great-grandchildren. Her generosity and enthusiasm for life is a gift for all who knew and loved her.

A viewing and family gathering for Jeanette will be held on Tuesday July 11, 2017 at Hughes Mortuary, 1037 East 700 South, St. George, Utah from 3-5 p.m.

Interment will be at the Pierce Brothers Valhalla Memorial Park in North Hollywood, California.

Raymond Earl Swaim, BHS 1911

Raymond Earl Swaim, BHS 1911

Los Angeles Times, February 19, 1966

Raymond E. Swaim of 7046 Kester, Van Nuys, former principal of Sherman Oaks Elementary School for 22 years. Services 11 a.m. Wednesday February 23, 1966 at Fillbach-Bailey Chapel, Burbank, California.

No other details at this time.

Sandra L.Yarritu O'Brien, BHS 1976

Burbank Daily Review, Tuesday, February 6, 1979

Sandra Yarritu O'Brien, who was employed at Totco Corp. in Glendale, died Saturday, February 3, 1979. She was 21. Born in Mercedes, Texas, she was a Burbank resident for 15 years.

She is survived by her husband, John S. O'Brien, Jr., two sons, Robert Shannon and Patrick Michael O'Brien of Burbank, her father Homer H. Yarritu, of San Jose, California, parents Libby and Oscar Sanchez of Burbank, two brothers, Randy and Michael, one sister, Lillie Libby Sanchez, all of Burbank, paternal grandmother, Gabriela Yarritu, of Donna, Texas, and maternal grandfather, Simon Almaraz.

Visitation is 6 to 9 p.m., Tuesday, February 6 at Forest Lawn, Hollywood Hills, California. Services will be 10 a.m., February 7 at the United Methodist Church, 100 N. Glenoaks Blvd., Burbank.

Note: In 2010 the Burbank High Athletic Hall of Fame inducted  the 1975 CIF Champion girls’ softball team. Not only because they have won our only girls’ C.I.F. championship. They were the pioneers of female sports in the City of Burbank. Without them our sports at both schools would not be at the level that they are today. Sandy Yarritu was among the honorees and the award was accepted by her family.

She was killed in an automobile accident.

Jeanine Ellyn Hilt, BHS 1970

Jeanine E. Hilt

Published in the Burbank Leader, August 21, 1993

Jeanine E. Hilt died August 11, 1993 in Orange, California. Ms. Hilt graduated from Burbank High School in 1970 and received a Masters in Social Work from the University of California at Fresno.

She is survived by her father, Leigh D. Hilt Sr. of Florissant, Missouri; her mother, Martha Wilkinson of Laguna Niguel, California; and a brother, Leigh D. Hilt, Jr. of El Cajon, California.

At her request, there was no formal service. Her ashes will be scattered at the Golden Gate Bridge and Yosemite National Park.

Harwood Vinson Grice, Jr., BHS 1961

Harwood Vinson Grice, Jr., BHS 1961
February 8, 1943 - April 10, 1993

Burbank Leader, Wednesday, May 12, 1993

H. Vinson Grice, Jr., 51, died April 10, 1993 at Westlake Medical Center. Mr. Grice was a 17-year resident of Westlake Village and was a 1961 graduate of Burbank High School. He was the owner of Grice and Leffingwell Certified Public Accountants in Westlake Village for 12 years.

Mr. Grice is survived by his mother Tom Ed Grice; his father, H. Vinson Grice, Sr.; and a brother, Ed Grice.

A memorial service will be held at 2p.m. on Saturday, May 22, at the Mausoleum of Christian Heritage, Forest Lawn Memorial Park, Covina Hills, California in the Columbarium of Immortality.

Randall Lee Logan, BHS 1966

Randall Lee Logan, BHS 1966

Burbank Daily Review, Tuesday, April 13, 1971

Randall Logan

Funeral services will be conducted Wednesday for Randall Lee Logan who died Monday April 12, 1971 in a local hospital at the age of 22. Born in Mojave, Mr. Logan was an eight-year resident of Burbank, making his home at 205 S. Golden Mall. He was formerly employed as a laborer by the M and F Manufacturing Company.

Mr. Logan is survived by his father, John of North Hollywood; his mother, Mrs. Lacy Miller of Seagrove, North Carolina; two sisters, Mrs. Louise Johnson of Burbank; Mrs. Patricia Bangert of North Hollywood; two brothers, Lance of North Hollywood, Bradley Curtins, serving with the United States Army in Cambodia; his grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Elmer Logan of Boron, California and Mr. and Mrs. Elzi Garner of Seagrove, North Carolina.

Services will be held at 2 p.m. Wednesday at the Fillbach-Bailey Funeral Service Chapel, 152 E. Palm. The Rev. Nathaniel Mitchell of Calvary Baptist Church will officiate at the services. Interment arrangements are pending.

John Roland Stothers, BHS 1949

John Roland Stothers, BHS 1949, passed away on June 21, 2015.

He was born in Kansas City, Kansas on September 6, 1931, and served in the United States Navy during the Korean War as a sonar man on a destroyer. In 1952 he married his wife the former Joyce Meyer. John graduated from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo in 1959.

He and his wife moved to Sunnyvale, California, working as a chemist in the food industry. He then moved to Arcadia, and later retired as a chemist for the City of Los Angeles. John enjoyed hiking, serving his church, and touring each capitol of the United States. John is survived by his wife Joyce; their four children, Sharon, John, Jr., Kenny and Melinda; 21 grandchildren and great-grandchildren. He will be missed by all who knew him.

From the Senior Bulldog Newsletter.

Edward Walter Kloth, BHS 2011

Edward Walter Kloth, BHS 2011

Eddie Kloth11 still inspires

From the 2011 BHS yearbook written by the Journalism Staff

He was first diagnosed with leukemia in his sophomore year. It was a roller coaster ride after that for  Edward Walter Kloth aka Eddie, a ride that finally ended on September 28, 2010 in Arizona with his family. For three years, Kloth would endure rounds of treatments achieving periods of remission but then the cancer would return and he would resume treatments. Even so, everyone who knew Kloth can tell you he was determined to not let cancer rule his life. Kloth fought hard to stay in school and attend regular classes. It is that level of “care” that we will always cherish about Kloth.

Everything Kloth did was a demonstration of an extraordinary determination to achieve his goals. Even when Kloth was going through chemotherapy, he maintained his grades, once even scoring the highest grade on an AP Chemistry test. This and his charm may have been the secrets to his success. Arthur Kubko, a friend, explained, “Eddie was accepting of everyone and their flaws. He was a smart guy. I remember he would only come to school once a week because of chemo and I would be there for the entire week and he would still get a higher grade than me! He will always be remembered for his humor and cleverness. Always calm and peaceful, especially among all the guys.”

He was also a member of the boys’ tennis team; he played doubles with James Hong. Once Coach Carlos Pelayo, one of the tennis coaches, said, “I think James and Eddie work so well together because they’re both quiet people. It’s like they read each other’s minds.” Although he was only able to play for one season, he was part of the “tennis rats of Burbank” crew. Chemotherapy usually slows patients down, but Kloth would always go out to the courts after his therapy and play until 10 p.m. when the lights would go out.

If Kloth was not on the courts, he and his friends would be doing “typical guy stuff” as Kubko said, “I remember we played a lot of ping pong at James’s house or just hung out at the mall. And, when he got his license, we went out more to places like Roscoe’s [Chicken and Waffles],” said Kubko.

Kloth was also a strong writer and had emailed Journalism Advisor Anne Burnett that he would be joining the journalism staff officially when school started but unfortunately, he was not able to return for his senior year. Academic Decathlon Coach Val Beidelman was also looking forward to seeing Kloth again. She said that even while he was undergoing chemotherapy treatments, “Eddie would still show up for decathlon practice and try to maintain his position on the team. It is courage, maturity, compassion and daring that Kloth showed as he fought a valiant fight that continues to inspire.

Kloth used to tell his friends that cancer gave him a new perspective on life. He said he didn’t get bothered by small things anymore. He said it was as if “God gave me a special pair of glasses to look through."

Helen Marie Kennedy, BHS 1986

Sophomore Photo

Helen Marie Kennedy, BHS 1986

20 October 1968 – 25 July 1988

Heard her car stalled on the fast lane of the freeway and she was rear ended by a semi-truck.
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Obituary from Daily News of Los Angeles – Valley Edition, dated 31 July 1988.

Helen Marie Kennedy, 19, of Glendale, cosmetologist. Visitation will be from 1 to 4 p.m. and 7 to 9 p.m. today and Monday and a rosary will be recited at 8 p.m. Monday at Eckerman-Heisman Funeral Service, Burbank. Mass will be celebrated at 9:30 a.m. Tuesday at St. Robert Bellarmine Catholic Church, Burbank. Burial will follow at San Fernando Mission Cemetery.
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Burbank Leader, Wednesday, August 3, 1988

Helen M. Kennedy, 19, died July 25, 1988 in Burbank. Born in Burbank, she lived here all her life. She had worked as a cosmetologist for a beauty shop in Encino.

Miss Kennedy is survived by her grandparents, Helen Anderson of Burbank and Robert J. Anderson Sr. of El Cajon; sister Jamie Kennedy of Burbank.

A funeral mass was held August 1 at St. Robert Bellarmine Catholic Church. Burial was at the San Fernando Mission Cemetery. The Eckerman-Heisman Funeral Home was in charge of the arrangements.