Ruth Lois Bayon Casper, BHS 1932

This is from The Senior Bulldog Newsletter that Ruth Lois Bayon Casper passed away on August 2, 2018 at age of 104 and half years old. She is survived by at least one daughter, Sue Reynolds. Her daughter Sue said Ruth enjoyed her time as a Bulldog at Burbank High School. No other details at this time.

Bonnie Diaz Voigt, BHS 1972

Bonnie Diaz Voigt, BHS 1972

Posted on Facebook that Bonnie Diaz Voigt passed away sometime this week September 2019. Bonnie was a 1972 graduate of Burbank High School. No other details at this time. Thoughts and Prayers to her family.

Otto Kenneth Lahlum, BHS 1945?

BURBANK JET PILOT DIES IN GERMANY
February 24, 1928 - December 16, 1954

Lt. Kenneth Lahlum, 27, Burbank jet pilot, died of shock and exposure after he bailed out of his disabled jet plane over Germany Thursday, December 16, 1954 according to a telegram received by his father, Otto Lahlum, a guitarist of 1806 Rosita Ave., Burbank.

The government telegram, delivered yesterday, said the pilot became lost after bailing out of his crippled plane. The first lieutenant's wife, Patricia, and his daughter, Lane Susan, one year old, live at 428 N. Lincoln Street, Burbank.

A graduate of Burbank High School, Lt. Lahlum flew 100 missions over Korea before being transferred to Germany two and a half years ago. He was a member of the 527th Fighter Bomber Squadron.

His stepmother, Mrs. Doris Lahlum, an accordionist, is spending Christmas in Korea entertaining the troops. Lt.Lahlum is also survived by his mother, Mrs. Borg Lahlum Wyzga, 510 E. Harvard Street, Glendale, California.

Michael Harvey Gunderman, BHS 2000

Michael Gunderman, BHS 2000 passed away on February 23, 2018 according to a fellow 2000 grad who posted this on Facebook. No other details at this time. May he rest in peace.

Douglas Craig Ward, BHS 1980

Douglas Craig Ward, Burbank High Class of 1980  
June 14, 1961 to March 12, 2019

Posted on Facebook

Douglas Craig Ward, passed away at City of Hope, Duarte, CA. March 12, 2019 from Stage four melanoma cancer diagnosed in January gone in two months at 57 years old after finding late in life love, only a year and a half prior. Life cut way too short. He was an awesome human being, friend, co worker and an incredible musician. He worked at IKEA for almost 26 years. No other details at this time.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ekYJE16bMwY&feature=youtu.be&fbclid=IwAR3Mbwukq1IfuBjAyyt-Kkr-nfpTNBg2QNQaPbaGI0mPu8D3dwFKtv9ocoE

Thomas Steven Christian, BHS 1965

Thomas Steven Christian, BHS 1965

Burbank Leader, Wednesday, September 25, 1985

Thomas S. Christian, 39, died September 21,1985 in his Burbank home. He was born in Glendale and had lived all his life in the Burbank area. He was a salesman for Levi-Strauss for 10 years.

He is survived by mother, June Christian Legnar of Burbank; grandmother, Mable Walker of Burbank; brother Frank Christian of Arleta; and sister Carol June Brentner of Burbank.

Services will be held Thursday at 11 a.m. at the Eckerman-Heisman Funeral Service Chapel. Visitation will be Thursday from 9 a.m.to 11 a.m.at the Eckerman-Heisman Funeral Service. Burial will be private at Forest Lawn Memorial Park, Glendale, California.

Lawrence "Larry" Strong, BHS 1950

Larry Strong

Born on July 18, 1932, in Glendale, California, and passed away on November 24, 2000, in Marina Del Rey, California. After graduating from Burbank High School, Larry began his career in the motion picture industry at Disney Studios. His career was interrupted by a tour of duty in the Korean War conflict from 1950-1953.

Larry enjoyed a 45 year career as a film editor and was twice nominated for an Emmy award and was nominated for an Eddie award for "Battlestar Galactica." He was a member of American Cinema Editors, an honorary society of motion pictures editors who are voted into membership on the basis of their professional achievements, their dedication to the education of others and their commitment to the craft of editing.

He is survived by his loving wife Elaine; his stepchildren Don McPherson, Jr, Jane Vogel and Marilee Ravana, and his step grandchildren Jennifer Patton and Douglas Vogel.

Service will be held at 1:30 p.m. Saturday, December 2, 2000, at Wee Kirk o' the Heather, Forest Lawn Memorial Park, Glendale, California.

Nancy Bennett Collins, BHS 1969

This was posted on Facebook by her sister as follows: "Heartbroken to lose my big sister, Nancy (Bennett) Collins BHS class of 1969. She is survived by two sisters, a son and daughter and her husband Martin Collins. No other details at this time.

Martin Akmakjian, BHS 1937

Martin Akmakjian, BHS 1937

It is with sadness that I inform you of the death of Martin Akmakjian. Born November 12, 1918, Martin finished his course of faith on February 19, 2016, as the longest standing member of our church family. Martin is beloved by many and now rests from his labors. He is survived by his wife Joyce, their two sons, Michael and Gregory, and three grandchildren.

A memorial service will be held on:

Friday, March 4, 2016 at 1:00 PM
Burbank First United Methodist Church
700 N. Glenoaks Blvd.
Burbank, CA 91502

Fountiene Duda Prince, BHS 1953

Fountiene Duda Prince, age 84, passed away peacefully in Bellingham, Washington on Saturday August 24, 2019.

Fountiene was born June 3, 1935 in Omaha, Nebraska. After moving to Long Beach, she attended Longfellow Elementary School. In 1950 her family moved to Burbank, California, where she attended Burbank High School and graduated in 1953 as an accomplished violinist. She received an academic scholarship to Michigan State University, where she spent her first 2 years of college. She then transferred to University of Southern California and graduated Phi Beta Kappa with a Bachelor of Science degree in Education in 1957.

On June 28, 1958, Fountiene married John Dudley Prince, a Naval officer stationed in San Diego. After their marriage and John’s retirement from the Navy, Fountiene and John moved to Ukiah, California where they both taught grade school. They returned to the Southern California area in 1959 and continued to work as teachers in the Simi Valley School District.

In 1960, Fountiene and John started their family. Fountiene was the loving mother of three children; Wendy Lee (1960), John Fredrick (1962), and Jeffrey Alden (1964). In 1978, after 18 years of staying at home to raise her family, she returned to graduate school to earn her MS in Psychology. She was a counselor for the Oak Park School district until 1998, when she returned to graduate school and obtained a PhD in Psychology. After receiving her PhD, she worked in the adolescent ward at Charter Hospital and also managed her own private practice until she retired in December of 2000.

In 1994, Fountiene and John built a vacation home on Orcas Island, a place Fountiene had fallen in love with after visiting on vacation. Fountiene spent her later years on Orcas Island hiking the trails, visiting neighboring islands, and enjoying a wonderful retirement with friends and family. Fountiene loved to cook and sew, and was most happy when she was helping others. She also loved to travel, and made numerous trips to reconnect with her relatives in the Czech Republic.

Fountiene was preceded in death by her mother Fountiene Lee Duda and Ferdinand Vincent Duda is survived by her husband of 61 years, John; her brother Fritz; her

three children Wendy, John and Jeff; and her 10 grandchildren Chris, Katie, Jordan, Natasha, Carter, Alex, Scarlett, Alden, John and Melia. Family, friends and others whose lives were touched by Fountiene are invited to attend a memorial service on Orcas Island at Emmanuel Episcopal Church, 242 Main St, Eastsound, WA 98245 on Saturday, September 7 at 1pm.

Published in the Islands' Sounder, Fri Aug 30th, 2019, Orcas Island, WA

Robert Christie Wellington, BHS 1925

R.C. Wellington Rites Tomorrow

Published June 1956

Funeral services for Robert Christie Wellington, 49, a Burbank resident for 44 years and employe of the Burbank Park and Recreation Department for nine years, will be conducted at 10 a.m. tomorrow at Fillbach Mortuary with interment to follow at San Fernando Mission Cemetery. 

He died Wednesday June 13, 1956. He was a 1925 graduate of Burbank High School where he served as the first editor of "High Life," the school's student newspaper.

He leaves his widow, Dolores, 123 S. Parrish Place, Burbank; a son. Robert Edwin; a brother, Ted Wellington, of Burbank, and two sisters.

Stephen Baio, BHS 1970

Stephen Baio, beloved father, son, brother, grandfather, uncle, and friend, died on January 24, 2019 in Las Vegas with his family by his side after a short battle with aggressive lymphoma. He was 67. Stephen will be remembered for his unwavering love and devotion to his family and friends. 

Stephen was born on August 16, 1951 in Chicago and moved to Burbank in 1964. He attended Luther Burbank Junior High, Burbank High, and graduated from Burroughs High in 1970. He studied stage design at Glendale College. Stephen married Toni Ann Celentano on February 15, 1975 in Burbank and they had a son, Andrew, in 1977. They divorced in 1981 and remained close friends until his death.

Stephen's career in the entertainment industry spans over three decades. During the 1980s, he worked as a stage production manager on the Sunset Strip, managing shows at the Whisky a Go-Go and The Roxy. Stephen also worked as part of the road crew for musical acts, touring with Los Lobos, Mr. Big, Rubber City Rebels, The Plimsouls, and The Rembrandts. He later worked as a production manager for Show Motion Design and oversaw projects for Disney, including the Indiana Jones Ride, and a laser maze game that took him to Japan. 

In 2003, he relocated to Las Vegas. Stephen was respected and admired by all who knew and worked with him for his loyalty, passion, and sense of humor. He was dedicated to his family and treasured spending time with those he loved. He cherished and nurtured friendships from high school to the present and never forgot a holiday or life event. Friends say he had a heart of gold. He was most proud of his son and loved sharing stories of his accomplishments. 

Stephen is survived by his mother, Teresa; son, Andrew and his wife, Ami; brother, Anthony; and grandson, Eliot. A memorial service will be held on Saturday, Feb. 2,

2019 at 10 a.m. at St. Robert Bellarmine Church at 133 N. 5th St. in Burbank. Stephen loved to camp and fish in the mountains and has requested his ashes be scattered over the High Sierras in a private ceremony. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Stephen's honor to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.

Published in The Burbank Leader on Jan. 30, 2019

Colleen Ann Anderson Gosling, BHS 1965

Burbank Leader, Saturday, May 21, 1988

Colleen A. Gosling, 41, died May 19, 1988 in Sun Valley. Born in Chicago, Illinois, she lived in Burbank for 37 years. She was a homemaker.

Ms. Gosling is survived by her daughters, Helen Kennedy of Glendale and Jamie Kennedy of Burbank; parents, Robert Anderson of El Cajon and Helen Anderson of Burbank; brother, Robert Anderson, Jr. of Lake Hughes; sister, Donna Ford of El Cajon.

A funeral mass will be at 10 a.m. today at St. Robert Bellarmine Catholic Church. Burial will be at the San Fernando Mission Cemetery. The Eckerman-Heisman Funeral Home is in charge.
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From Sara Marino Becaria, BHS '67:

"My Cousin Colleen was born March 3, 1946. She passed away in a Sun Valley Hospital on May 20, 1988. Her name was Colleen Ann Anderson (Gosling). She was divorced from Kyle Gosling. She had two daughters, Jamie and Helen Kennedy from her first marriage to James Kennedy. 

"Eight weeks after she passed, her daughter Helen was in a car accident, hit the guardrail on the 134 before the 5 North. She sustained head injuries and passed away after a couple weeks in the hospital. She passed at 19 years old leaving behind a 16 year old sister Jamie. It was devastating." 

Helen Kennedy graduated from Burbank High in 1986.  

"Jamie did get married and had two daughters. Jamie was not well and she separated herself from the family. When she passed away, my parents and I went to Jamie's Celebration of Life about 15 yrs ago. She was young. Her Grandma Helen, Colleen's mother and my dad’s sister, is 94 and lives in Ohio with Colleen's sister, Donna Blaney. Very painful for her to remember the past."

"Colleen was also survived  by her father, Bob who has since passed away, and her brother Bobby Anderson who lives in Nevada."

I have fun memories as kids hanging out with Sara and her fun-loving cousin, Colleen. RIP Colleen.

William Harlan Coryell III, BHS 1963

Bill Coryell passed away due to cancer early on Saturday morning, August 31, 2019 at Dell Seton Hospital in Austin, Texas, just one week before his 74th birthday. 

William Harlan Coryell, III was born in Los Angeles on September 8, 1945. He grew up in Burbank, attending Thomas Jefferson Elementary, John Muir Junior High, and Burbank High, graduating in 1963. He graduated from San Diego State University. After Bill retired he moved to Georgetown, Texas, north of Austin, where he lived until his death.

Bill Coryell is survived by his wife; two sons; sister; and three grandchildren.

Private Services will be held in Texas.

(There is no senior picture of Bill in the 1963 Ceralbus.) The photo is Bill's junior photo from the 1962 yearbook.

Phyllis Julius Radford, BHS 1941

Phyllis Radford

1923 - 2015

Phyllis Radford, 91, of Santa Maria, CA, passed away on January 19, 2015, of natural causes. She was born in Los Angeles two weeks after her parents emigrated from Canada. The family resided in Burbank, CA, where she graduated from Burbank High with the Class of 1941. While working in a local jewelry store, she met George Radford whom she married in November of 1941. Together they had two children and moved to Glendale where George's business was located. She was a homemaker and did some work in modeling.

In 1956 George decided to relocate his window business (Radco Products) to Santa Maria where they resided until 1967 when the business was moved to Honolulu where she began to work in the business as an administrative assistant. After a decade in the aluminum railing business, they relocated to Santa Maria in 1978 to manufacture solar thermal collectors for the next 30 years.

Phyllis was active for many years in the Santa Maria Country Club and St. Peter's Episcopal Church. She was also a member of Minerva Club, the Birthday Club and the Clock Club. She and George enjoyed travelling in George's airplanes in their earlier years and on world travel adventures in later years prior to George's passing in 2003. They especially enjoyed the time they spent together in their home in Lake Tahoe.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Ed & Eileen Julius of Santa Maria and her brother Brian Julius of Turlock. She is survived by her son George (Anne) Radford and daughter Judy (Fred) Sanders, grandchildren Bobby (Jodi) Radford and Caitlyn Sanders, and great grand daughter Chloe Radford, all of Santa Maria.

A memorial celebration of her life will be held on Friday, February 6th at St. Peter's Episcopal Church at 2:00 PM. Followed by a reception at her home.

In lieu of flowers the family requests contributions in her memory to St. Peter's Church, 402 South Lincoln Street, Santa Maria, CA 93458 or to The Alzheimer's Association, 1528 Chapala Street, #204, Santa Barbara, CA 93101.

To leave a condolence for the family visit www.dudleyhoffmanmortuary.com

Dudley-Hoffman

Mortuary & Crematory

(805) 922-8463

Published in the Santa Maria Times, January 2015