Herschel Smith, BHS 1965

Fontana, CA

Herschel Smith, 59, who resided in Upland, CA and was a former Connersville resident, died Wednesday, October 11th, 2006 at Kaiser Hospital in Fontana, CA.

 
A Connersville native, he was born February 14, 1947 to Hugh and Hilda Jordan Smith. He enjoyed spending time with family and friends. His favorite past time was dealing in antiques and old cars.

Survivors include; two daughters and their spouses: Churee N. & David Cregar, Lauren & J.R. Lunsford, all of Connersville; two sons and their spouses: Wayne H. and Kristen Smith of Van Nuys, CA; Travis H. and Marci Smith of Indianapolis; four brothers and their spouses: Vernon Smith, Ovie and Janet Jordan all of Connersville, Cecil and Millie Smith of Indianapolis, Denver and Charlotte Smith; five grandchildren, several nieces and nephews.

His parents, a daughter, Connie M. Smith, who died August 14, 1993 and a brother Earl Smith, preceded him in death.

Graveside funeral services will be conducted at 1:00 pm Thursday at Dale Cemetery, Connersville with Pastor David Jordan of the First Baptist Church of Laurel officiating. Memorial contributions may be given through the funeral home to the family. For additional information and to sign the online guestbook go to www.ShowalterBlackwellLong.com.

Kristy Bebrich Briskin, BHS 1978

Kristy Bebrich Briskin, BHS 1978

Kristy (Bebrich) Briskin, 58, passed away on June 10, 2019 in Marietta, GA, after a lengthy illness. She was born in Glendale, CA, and was raised in Burbank, graduating from Burbank High School in 1978. 

She is survived by her life partner Michael Willhite, parents Walt Bebrich and Nora Bebrich, sister Kim (Eric) Eberhart, brother Brent Bebrich, and nephew Joshua Eberhart. 

Prior to her illness, Kristy was always on the go and loved to travel. One of her favorite trips was a photographic African safari. Her successful career in the shoe industry, and as an entrepreneur, brought her great joy. In addition to her passion for travel and fashion, she loved animals and donated time to her local SPCA. In memory of Kristy, donations can be made to aspca.org or your favorite animal charity.

Published in The Burbank Leader on June 15, 2019

Douglas Kent Spaulding, BHS 1959

Douglas Kent Spaulding, BHS 1959

Published in the Burbank Daily Review, 1988

Douglas Spaulding, 47, died December 31, 1988 in Lakewood, California. Raised in Burbank, he was a 1959 graduate of Burbank High School. Mr. Spaulding was a truck driver and owned a trucking business.

Mr. Spaulding is survived by his mother, Mrs. Jean Shefronick of Paradise; a sister Jo Ann Kinion of Petaluma; one nephew; two nieces. 

Private burial was at Forest Lawn Memorial Park, Hollywood Hills. Memorial contributions may be made to the church or charity of your choice.

Paul Robert Hekler, BHS 1964

Burbank Youth Dies In Accident
Burbank Daily Review, Monday, February 24, 1964

An enjoyable evening at a dance ended tragically Sunday night with the death of one Burbank youth and injury to three others.

Killed when their car went out of control and turned over was Paul Hekler,17, of 501 Dartsmouth Road. He was rushed to White Memorial Hospital where he succumbed to head injuries a few hours after the accident.

Injured were Miss Heli Lipp, 16, of 267 W. Santa Anita Ave.; William Shott, Jr., 16, of 1914 Winona Ave.; and Miss Suzanne Saurwein, 18, of 415 Birmingham Road. Miss Lipp was treated for head and rib injuries at  White Hospital and was later  transferred to Kaiser Memorial Hospital. Miss Saurwein and Shott were treated for abrasions and bruises and released.

Los Angeles police said they learned the four were returning to Burbank from a dance when the accident occurred. The car with Miss Lipp behind the wheel went out of control in the northbound lanes of the Golden State Freeway near Pasadena Freeway and turned over crashing into the freeway divider fence.

The dead youth's mother is prominent in community affairs, serving as treasurer of the Burbank Woman's Club. She is also membership chairman of the Burbank High School PTA and has been active in Girl Scouting. Mr. Hekler is in the insurance business.

The couple has two other children, a daughter, Renee, in college, and another daughter, Susie, a junior high school student.

Dennis Craig Woods, BHS 1969

Dennis Craig Woods
February 11, 1951 - July 18, 1981

Dennis was born on February 11, 1951 in Los Angeles County, California to Charles Albert Woods and Irene Golub. He grew up in Burbank, attending Bret Harte Elementary School, Luther Burbank Junior High School and graduated from Burbank High School in 1969.

The Woods family lived around the corner from me on Avon Street between Jeffries Ave, and Victory Blvd. I use to talk to Mrs. Woods all the time but after I graduated from BHS in 1967, I did not see her much. But one day I was walking up Avon St. to pick up my truck at the corner which was in for repairs and Mrs. Woods was out watering the yard. I stopped to talk to her. It was then I learned that she was worried that her son Dale was getting out of prison and his brothers and sister did not want nothing to do with him. I had this strange look on my face and she said you heard what happened didn't you and I said no. She then told me that Dale shot and killed Dennis.

I asked what happened and she said, they the brothers went camping in Kern County near the Kern River and an argument and fight broke out between the two brothers and Dale shot and killed his brother Dennis. This happened on July 18, 1981 according to the CA Death Index. Mrs. Woods was worried as Dale was going to be released from prison in a couple weeks and she was not sure what would happened when he came home. I do not remember what year this was but it was several years after Dennis had died when I found out.

Dennis was survived by his parents, brothers, Charles (Chuck) Woods (BHS 67), Charlene Woods (BHS 69), Bruce Woods (BHS 70), Dale and Scott Woods.

NOTE: A few years ago I believe it was Dale died in the family home. He was found dead on the sofa. I found this out when I attended a neighborhood watch party across the street from the Woods house. One of the neighbors told me.

Robert L. McKee, BHS 1957

Robert L. McKee 
November 21, 1939 - 
February 6, 2017

Bob passed away on Monday, February 6, 2017. Bob grew up in the San Fernando Valley and after graduation from Burbank High School, joined the Air Force and became a Jet Engine Mechanic. He married his high school sweetheart Kay in 1963 and they were happily married for 53+ years. 

Besides his wife, Bob leaves two daughters, Stacy Sundstrom, husband Dave, and Tori Osterman, husband Paul, as well as four grandchildren: Kinsey and Katie Sundstrom and Eric and Shane Osterman. 

Bob had lived in the High Desert for 32 years. He built the first two Hole-N-One Donut Shops and then moved on to real estate, small manufacturing, Mail Masters Plus and, lastly, Bob'll Do It Handyman Service. Bob enjoyed golf, travel, and most of all, his family. 

There will be a celebration of life at the Mckee Home from 1:00 to 4:00 pm on February 19th. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Alzheimer's Association. A special thanks to the Staff at Sterling Commons.

Published in the Daily Press on Feb. 11, 2017, Victorville, California

Milton L. Hall. BHS 1941

At the long age of 95, Milton L. Hall passed away June 3rd, 2019 at Stoney Brook, in Belton, Texas, with his family holding his hands.

He was born on August 13th, 1923 to Ira S. Hall and Chlora Pearl Warne Hall in Long Beach, California. He spent his youth in southern California in the Los Angeles area, enjoying hiking with the Boy Scouts, including a climb to the peak of Mount Whitney. He graduated from Burbank High School and worked the next two years in retail in the area.

In 1943, he joined the military, first in the regular Army, then transferred to the Army Air Corp, serving proudly as a transport pilot in the Troop Carrier Command until October, 1945. He was stationed at numerous military bases in the mid-U.S., including Sedalia, Mo., which lead to the meeting of his future wife, Phyllis Hauenstein, of Tuscumbia, Mo., whom he married March 17th, 1945 in Vincennes, Indiana.

Milton and Phyllis moved to Oregon near family, after Milton was honorably discharged in October, 1945, and they built a house in the woods with their own four hands and lots of initiative. It was in Grants Pass, Oregon that Pamela was born and Milton learned bookkeeping, which began his accounting career.

Next the family moved to Kansas City, nearer Phyllis’ relatives, and the family grew with the addition of David and Steven.

Eying an opportunity in Houston, Texas, Milton and Phyllis packed up once again, to begin a long association with the petroleum industry. He took accounting courses and also taught himself the complexities of the petroleum business, through much self-study. In Houston, the fourth child, Jeffrey, was born, completing the family.

Milton and Phyllis were part of a group that helped start a Methodist church in Houston, with many of their lifelong friends.

In 1983 Milton and Phyllis moved to Colorado, so that Milton could join StratSeis as Vice-President of Finance, which he continued until retirement.

Phyllis and Milton retired to the quieter life in Eldon, Missouri and began a lively renewal of friendships from Phyllis’ childhood. They were active in many church festivities and community service organizations and enjoyed golfing regularly at the country club with friends.

Later, Milton and Phyllis began to spend winters in McAllen, Texas, with Pamela and her husband David, and eventually stayed full-time, taking advantage of the warm weather and family support. Milton stayed there until after Phyllis’ death in 2005, then moved to Belton, Texas.

Milton was preceded in death by his loving wife, Phyllis, his parents, and wonderful brother, Robert A Hall of Atascadero, California.

He is survived by his daughter Pamela Hall Evans and husband, David; son David Hall and wife Diana, son Steven Hall and wife Gayle, and son Jeffrey Hall and wife Sharon; grandchildren Marc, Kelly, Morgan, Darien, Logan, Sara, Peter, and William; great-grandchildren Allie, Fletcher, Karl, Jay, Sophia, Avery, Lillie.

He is remembered for his kindness, wit, puns, quick smile, and great love of his wife and family.

Donations can be made to the Alzheimer's Association or the American Heart Association.

Services will held at Dossman Funeral Home on Main Street, Belton, Tx. at 10 am on Saturday June 15th, 2019. He will be interred in Tuscumbia, Missouri with his loving wife Phyllis at a later date.

Published on tdtnews.com June 10, 2019

Steven Striker, BHS 1966

FROM Facebook:

"To the friends of Steven Striker:
Steven passed away of natural causes on June 7, 2019. Our family is requesting privacy at this time.

For information about the upcoming memorial, please contact us at: StrikerMemorial@gmail.com

Thank you,
The Striker Family"

FROM Scott Bruckner, BHS 66 on Facebook wrote:

"I found out last night that a friend of mine from High School died. We had reconnected and saw each other periodically over the past several years. He was whip smart, had a great wife and family, and was a joy to talk to. We were supposed to have dinner in a few weeks. He, his wife and mine, along with Bill Paige and his wife. We had great times together. We will all miss you Steve Striker. What a shock. Life is so fragile. So sad."

 Steve was living in San Diego, California.

Mary Jo Plowman Connell, BHS 1945

Mary Jo (Joey) Plowman Connell passed away on December 29, 2018 in Ojai, California. She was 91 years-old. She was born on September 26, 1927 in Burbank, California. Joey and Gene were married on February 14, 1948 and celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary with family and friends in 2018.

She earned a "BA" at CSUN and served as a probation officer in Ventura county for 10 years. She obtained her private pilot's license in 1979 and became a member of the Ninety-Nines, the international organization of women pilots. She remained a member until her death and was active in the organization for many years.

Joey and Gene moved to Independence, Oregon when they retired. They built a house with an airplane hangar adjacent to the Independence airport and lived there for 13 years before returning to California. While in Oregon, she worked as a volunteer for the CASA program (Court Appointed Special Advocate), an organization representing children who are wards of the court. Her final act of volunteerism was that she donated her body to scientific research.

Mary Jo is survived by her husband, Eugene Connell, her 4 children, David Connell, in Salem, Oregon, Christina Kirk, in Victorville, California, twin sons, Mark Connell, in San Jose, California, and Alan Connell, in Ojai, California, 15 grandchildren and 23 great grandchildren.

From the Senior Bulldogs

David Goodman Strauss, Jr., BHS 1967

This one was a hard one to write as Dave was a classmate of mine. In 2007 I was told a few years after high school Dave went missing and he liked to hike and backpack and camp all over the US. On one of these trips he never returned. At our 10 year reunion we found out that his parents received a call from a Texas police detective that their son's body had been found murdered and they had just ID'd the body. I had no dates, no parents name and only the state of Texas, and finally in 2018 I found what happened to our classmate David Goodman Strauss. He was murdered on March 29, 1971 in Junction, TX and his body was IDed in 1974. Below are two news clippings and his death certificate with three amendments. Dave is buried with his parents in the Nuuanu Memorial Park, Honolulu, Honolulu County, Hawaii. Dave's Find A Grave Memorial

San Antonio Express, Wednesday, March 31, 1971

FINGERPRINTS SENT TO FBI IN 'SLEEPING BAG SLAYING'

JUNCTION- Fingerprints of man found near here Monday- zipped inside a sleeping bag and shot to death- have been sent to Washington, D.C., in hopes that national FBI headquarters can help solve the mystery surrounding the murder victim's identity.

Kimble County Sheriff Rip Martin said Tuesday that local authorities still have not been able to identify the victim, estimated to be 20 to 25 years old and clad only in a white T- shirt and shorts.

The man was found on an Interstate 10 exit road about five miles east of Junction by Bob Cook, a Texas Parks and Wildlife Department employee who was on his way to work at the time.

Martin said the man was apparently shot in the back of the head with a bullet from a small-caliber gun as he slept in the sleeping bag, possibly inside a car.

An autopsy has been conducted by Bexar County Medical Examiner Dr. Ruben Santos in San Antonio, but results have not yet been revealed.

Martin said the victim was long-haired and bearded, 5-10 in height. His hair was described as reddish-brown, eyes as hazel and complexion as ruddy. The beard was light with a shaved upper lip. Sideburns were long.

The sheriff said there was some evidence the man might have been driving a small car which may have been stolen by his assailant.

There is speculation the victim may have been transported to the site where his body was found, Authorities said the sleeping bag containing his body could have been thrown from a vehicle over a culvert guard rail onto the underpass where Cook found it.

Persons who may be able to contribute to the effort to identify the man have been asked to contact Texas Department of Public Safety officials.
------------------------------------------------

The Harper Herald, Harper, Texas, Friday, April 2, 1971

HILL COUNTRY DEATH CASE INVESTIGATED

JUNCTION - Local and state officers Monday were investigating the shooting death of a young unidentified man, whose body was found in a sleeping bag on exit road off IH 10 east of Junction early Monday.

Sheriff Rip Martin, Deputy John Lockett, Texas Rangers and other officers were conducting the investigation of the death.

The body was found about 7 a.m. Monday by Bob Cook, a Texas Game Department worker who lives near the site. The victim had been shot in the back of the head.

He was described as being 24 to 26 years of age, about six feet tall, about 160 pounds, blue eyed and brown haired. The hair was long.
-------------------------------------------------
Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Fort Worth, Texas, Thursday, January 10, 1974

BODY IDENTIFIED IN 1971 MURDER

JUNCTION - Police said Wednesday they have at last identified the body of a California man who was found shot in a sleeping bag near here March 29, 1971. 
Police said the victim was David Goodman Strauss, 21, of San Gabriel, California. 

Strauss' body was found in a sealed sleeping bag alongside a road near this Hill Country town after he was reported missing by his parents. Police said stolen traveler's checks to which hisname had been forged led to the identification.
Below is a copy from L.a. Free Press, June 28, 1972 that Dave's mother posted. Sorry bottom part is cut off.

Below is a copy of his death certificate followed by three amendments:

Thomas R. Bammel, BHS 1966

From Tom's wife Pam Carr Bammel, BHS 1967 

It is with a heavy heart that I want to let my friends know that my husband, Tom, passed away last Friday, August 24, 2018. He had long been suffering from chronic back pain, diabetes and liver disease. Our family will truly miss his warmth, sense of humor and love. 

We met in algebra class when we were 16, dated for 6 years and were married for 47 years. Our children and grandchildren were blessed to have such a wonderful Dad and Grandpa. I am especially blessed to have had this one great love.

Note: Tom and Pam were married on 12 June 1971 in Los Angeles County. Tom had a passion for photography, and a passion of cars. No other details at this time.

Leonard Miser, BHS 1981

Leonard Miser, 1963-2018

From David Miser
On July 13, 2017 my little brother Leonard was diagnosed with stage 4 Colon (Colorectal) Cancer. Shortly after discovering this earth shattering news he was informed that the cancer had spread to his liver and lungs. This diagnosis has been devastating for my brother and his family. Their world has been turned completely upside down. Leonard began treatment almost immediately, but the magnitude of what it will take to continue to treat his cancer and how it will impact his family's livelihood, is something he is still trying to come to terms with.

Leonard is the father of three wonderful children (Anthony-32, Jonathan-17 and Crystal-16), two of which are in the middle of considering which colleges they want to attend. He is a loving husband and a gentle grandfather. His only care in this life has been the well-being of the people he is close to and he has dedicated himself to that very cause.

Leonard’s cancer diagnosis has literally crippled his family, rendering him completely unable to work and relying solely on the income of his hard working wife. Rosa is an in-home caretaker for sick individuals. She works 6 days a week, two of which are 12 hour shifts, earning Nevada's minimum wage. Unfortunately, a minimum wage job will NEVER be enough to keep up with the financial toll this disease takes on a family, no matter the hours put in. With only Medicaid to fall back on, he needs help; THEY need help.

This is where I stepped in. Four days ago I created a GoFundMe account to attempt to ease the burden of the medical bills piling up. With the generosity of so many of our family, friends and even a couple of strangers, we have already to raised almost $4,000!!! This is HUGE and will help Leonard afford his first rounds of meds while allowing the kids to get to their first day of school without more than friends, gossip and homework to occupy their minds. This battle has just begun, however, and they started three steps behind. 

My goal may be lofty but there are so many things to consider: putting food on the table, living expenses, Jonathan and Crystal’s needs while in school and, of course, the insurmountable amount of debt they are bound to see. In the meantime, we are working with his doctors to see what the next plan of action will be. As of now, he has undergone a colostomy, and is waiting for his liver to be stable enough for him to begin chemo. 

I am flying to Nevada today in order to be with him for the beginning of his journey. Through this process I am bound to learn more technical terms about cancer than I had ever hoped (I will be sure to pass that knowledge along),but I also hope to provide a bit of love and comfort to my brother and his family during this difficult time.

Let this update serve as a huge “Thank You” from all of us. Thank you for the kind donations, the words of encouragement, the shares on social media and for having us in your thoughts. Every ounce of every one of those things helps.