Mark DeWitt Williamson, BHS 1969

Mark DeWitt Williamson, BHS 1969

July 9, 1951, Born in St. Louis, MO - September 1, 2018

Resided in St. Charles, MO

Mark DeWitt Williamson, Sr., of Saint Charles, Missouri, passed away on Saturday, September 1, 2018 at the age of 67. Beloved son of Marvin DeWitt Williamson and the late Agnes M. Williamson; devoted father of Kerri Williamson, Mark (Becky) Williamson, Jr., Ashley Williamson, and Christopher Williamson; proud grandfather of Aniyah Williamson-Curry, Aiden Williamson, Charlie Williamson, Mason Minardi, Desirae Giddens, Arabella Giddens, and Jeremiah Williamson; loving brother of Maryjo (Ron) Bass; and treasured uncle of Brandi Bass, Tyler Bass, and Jake Bass. He is also survived by his former wife, Patti Williamson and many extended family members.

Mark was a lover of all music. In his free time, he enjoyed reading and collecting memorabilia, especially from The Beatles. Mark was a DeMolay Mason. Most of all, he cherished the time he spent with his family. Mark was loved by many and will be missed by all who had the privilege to know him.

Memorial contributions may be made in Mark’s honor to the American Diabetes Association.

Visitation: Baue Funeral & Memorial Center, 3950 West Clay, 63301, Saturday September 8, 2018 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm

Service: Baue Funeral & Memorial Center, 3950 West Clay, 63301, Saturday September 8, 2018 4:00 pm. Interment: St. Charles Memorial Gardens, Saturday September 8, 2018

Published by the Baue Funeral-Crematory-Cemetery

Mark passed away from complications from diabetes.

Davida Elizabeth Ingram Symonds, BHS 1937

Davida Elizabeth Ingram Symonds, BHS 1937

September 27, 1920 - May 28, 2021 

Davida Elizabeth Symonds died on Friday, May 28, 2021, after more than 100 years of a well lived life. She was born in Wellington, Texas on September 27, 1920. She moved, as a young child, with her mother and father, Werta and John Ingram, and her two older brothers, Frank and John to Burbank, California. 

She attended and graduated in 1937 from Burbank High School and went on to study at Glendale Community College and graduated with a A. A. Degree in 1939.She began working at a local bank where she met the love of her life, Robert Gregg Symonds and they were married on August 31, 1941. In 1943, their first daughter was born. After her husband returned from the Pacific, they had another daughter and a son. They established their new home in the San Fernando Valley where they lived for over 40 years, then moved to Agoura, and then, in 2012, they made one last move to Pasadena, CA.

After the end of World War II, Davida continued her education at L.A. Trade Technical Junior College, Pierce Junior College and Loyola University, where she was trained in engineering math. In 1951 she was employed by Hughes Aircraft, beginning as a draftsman, then left Hughes and was employed by Radioplane Company and then The Steven's Company. She worked as a design engineer in the research and development of missiles and production of drones, so she was truly a woman before her time. 

In 1962, she decided to change direction and further her education; when she enrolled at Cal State Northridge. She graduated in 1966 with a BA in Art. She began to use her new skills in furniture design and production, weaving, jewelry, pottery and produced many items that still grace a number of homes today. 

After their children moved on in their lives, Davida and Gregg began to travel throughout the world. They used all modes of travel, their personal plane, commercial aircraft and probably their most favorite traveling was done in one of many motor homes, visiting family and friends throughout the United States, Mexico and Canada. After retiring from working and finished up with her formal education, she took on another field of interest; Genealogy. She has done an in-depth study of both the Ingram and Symonds families and has research ancestors and linked them to the early colonization of America. During their travels and to document her research, Davida and Gregg visited historical societies, museums, various cemeteries and distant relatives in the USA, England, Ireland and Scotland. In pursuing her interest, she was invited to join the Board of the New England Genealogical Society which she enjoyed very much. 

Davida will be remembered for her smart wit, curiosity, tenacity, and love of family. She was predeceased by her husband, Gregg, who died in 2012. She is survived by her two daughters, Marilyn Dee Buchanan (Gene), Carole Louise Daly (Jim) and a son, David Allen Symonds, ten grandchildren and 12 great grandchildren. A private memorial service as held for close family members on July 3, 2021. She will be missed by all who knew her.

Published by Los Angeles Times on Sep. 26, 2021.

Ralph Alfred Taube, BHS 1962

Ralph Alfred Taube, BHS 1962

Published in The Signal, Santa Clarita, California, Saturday, March 23, 1991

Ralph A. Taube

Lake Elizabeth resident Ralph Taube, 46, died Tuesday in Glendale, California. He was born April 16, 1944, in Memphis, Tennessee. Services will be private.

Mr. Taube is survived by his wife, Jacque; daughter, Julia Bartosch; a son, Eric; his father, Joe A. Taube; his mother, Jennie; and three sisters, Nancy Robertson, Sally Taube and Susanne Clark.

Mitchell Lee Bandy, BHS 1999

Mitchell Lee Bandy, BHS 1999

September 7, 2021 

A Roseburg man died in a car versus pedestrian accident on Sunday night.

Sergeant Brad O’Dell of the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office at about 6:20 p.m. dispatchers began receiving reports of the incident on Garden Valley Road near Fisher Road.

O’Dell said deputies arrived on the scene and learned that a car driven by a Roseburg woman had been traveling south on Garden Valley when 40-year old Mitchell Bandy stepped out in front of the vehicle and was struck. Witnesses said the man had been looking down at his cellphone when he walked into traffic.

Bandy was transported to CHI Mercy Medical Center where he later succumbed to his injuries. O’Dell said the driver is cooperating with law enforcement during the ongoing investigation. No arrests or citations have been made.

DCSO was assisted by a number of other agencies at the accident scene. 

News Radio 1240, KQEN

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Mitchell had decided to go back to college and was attending college in Oregon. He was active in the outdoors. On his Facebook page he said that he hated Oregon and could not wait to get back to Southern California. He will be missed by all who knew. Rest In Peace!

Ronald Jeffery Benom, BHS 1965

 Ronald Jeffrey Benom, BHS 1965

Walter Gabrielson, Autobiography, "Persistence"

RON BENOM, Some things you would like to take back. Ron was an OK student at CSUN, he went on to have a small career and eventually moved down the street from me in Pasadena. Ron was also a nudge (pronounced noodge). When you are a nudge's teacher you have to put with it because it is the job. You have to put up with practically everybody for you are part of the institutional coping, blandness and authority in a way just like every other licensed professor. It is part of the job.

After Ron graduated and began his career I felt I was over him. But no, Ron engaged in post-graduate games in the form of coming up and handing around me like the lost soul during any social event or art opening we happened to cofrequent. He even looked like the tiny, forever-lost hangdog character of Western movies. He wouldn't go away, he would be there sticking to me like glue, my little pilot fish. I think Ron had the idea that the student-teacher relationship went on for life. And, he was such a nice, sweet, little guy, who wanted to hurt him? 

Finally, I got the courage to do something about it and I did the worst possible thing (others would disagree) that I have ever done to anybody in public. Ron came up to me at an opening and started the whole nudgie act up I turned to him before he really got it cranked up and said, "Ron, I am sorry but I have to go and talk to somebody more important right now." He was stunned. I walked away. After that he seldom talked to me.

I was the guy who kicked the puppy. He would look at me across a room with his sad eyes but not come any closer. I sincerely regretted doing it and I felt badly about it ten years later. I just recently heard he died. I really, really hope it wasn't from a broken heart.

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Published in Los Angeles Times, Tuesday, July 14, 1992, Page 317, Col. 4

BENOM, Ronald J. passed away on July 11, 1992 at age 44. He is survived by the of his life, Linda Nishio; niece, Alison Ball; nephew, Tyler Ball; many loving friends and relatives. 

There will be a private memorial service on August 8, In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Kenneth Norris Jr. Cancer Hospital in Los Angeles.

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Ronald Jeffrey Benom was born on August 5, 1947 in Los Angeles County, California . The son of Joseph and Betty Dale Benom of Burbank, California . Ron passed away on July 11, 1992 in Pasadena, California. Married Linda Nishio. No other details at this time.

Janet Eve "Gracie" Barnes Christensen, BHS 1964

Janet Eve “Gracie” Barnes Christensen, BHS 1964

October 28, 1946 - September 08, 2021

Janet Gracie Barnes Christensen did not just live, she taught us how to live as well. More than that, she taught us how to love. Not just others, but ourselves. She was a go go dancer, a hairdresser, a business woman, a peace officer. She was a sponsor and a survivor. She was a teacher and the safest place to laugh or cry. She was so many things. One wonders how she fit it into the one giant life she lived. 

But above all she was Claude and Helens' daughter. She was Danny, Jamie and Christie's Mother. She was Sadie, Kash and Kyler's Granny. She was a lover of Jesus, joy, Gods grace and a friend to all who needed one. And she always will be. Gracie Birthday Extravaganza and celebration of life coming up on October 30th, 2021 in Sacramento, California. 

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From Pam Kirkwood, BHS 64

Janet was a Classmate from the BHS 'Class of 64. She was an adorable girl with a fun personality. She was also voted "Class Flirt" in our Senior Year... Janet will be missed by so many. 

Marlene Davis Nightingale, BHS 1950

Marlene Davis Nightingale, BHS 1950  

Remembering Marlene...

Born in Sandusky, Ohio and raised in Calif., Marlene graduated from Burbank High School and worked at Lockheed Burbank for 25 years before she and her husband, Jerry Nightingale, moved to Lake Havasu City and opened the first Mexican restaurant in that city, The Taco Hacienda. During the first 5 yrs. of operation, Marlene had to make the roundtrip from Los Angeles to Lake Havsau to gather the needed supplies for the restaurant every other weekend. Without her dedication and support it would never have been as successful as it became.

Marlene and Jerry moved to Wickenburg in 1995 where Marlene was very active in volunteer work with both the Habitat For Humanity and Soroptimist organizations for many years.

She leaves behind her husband of 59 years Jerry Nightingale, two nieces, Gerri Davis McCorkle of Boise, Idaho and Victoria Nightingale of Las Vegas, Nevada; a nephew, Chris Nightingale of Springfield, Vermont, and a brother-in-law, Jim Nightingale of Glendora, California.

A Memorial service for Marlene will be held on Tuesday, Sept. 21st. at 2 p.m. at the Wickenburg Funeral Home and Crematory located 187 N. Adams St. in Wickenburg.

In lieu of flowers, please make your donation to the 

St. Labre Indian Catholic School, P.O. Box 797

1000 Tongue River Rd., Ashland, Mt.  59003. 

Friends may offer online condolences at www.wickenburgfuneralhome.com  Arrangements under the direction of Wickenburg Funeral Home & Crematory.

Published in the Wickenburg Sun, Wickenburg, Arizona, Sep 13, 2021.

Marlene passed away on September 2, 2021.

 

Myrna Rochelle Lyons Samuels, BHS 1959

 Myrna Rochelle Lyons Samuels, BHS 1959

JULY 5, 1941 – MARCH 6, 2021

IN THE CARE OF

Groman Eden Mortuary & Eden Memorial Park, Mission Hills, California.

Psalm 16 (Michtam of David) Keep me, O God; for I have taken refuge in Thee. I have said unto the Lord; “Thou art my Lord; I have no good but in Thee’; As for the holy that are in the earth, They are the excellent in whom is all my delight. Let the idols of them be multiplied that make suit unto another; Their drink-offerings of blood will I not offer, Nor take their names upon my lips. O Lord, the portion of mine inheritance and of my cup, Thou maintainest my lot. The lines are fallen unto me in pleasant places; Yea, I have a goodly heritage. I will bless the Lord, who hath given me counsel; Yea, in the night seasons my reins instruct me. I have set the Lord always before me; Surely He is at my right hand, I shall not be moved. Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoiceth; My flesh also dwelleth in safety; For Thou wilt not abandon my soul to the nether-world; Neither wilt Thou suffer Thy godly one to see the pit. Thou makest me to know the path of life; In Thy presence is fullness of joy, In Thy right hand bliss for evermore.

NOTE: According to a 59 classmate, her understanding was that Myrna passed away from breast cancer. No other details at this time.

A Remembrance

My heart goes out to all of you as you mourn her loss. I will always remember Myrna as the "hub" of the family. The one who pulled everyone together during holidays and special times. Most of all I will remember her love for her children and especially, the grands. So many wonderful memories they have to take them through the rest of their years. That's what it's all about. That's how we live on ...   Sue

Lisa Michele Baker Powelson, BHS 1985

Lisa Michele Baker Powelson, BHS 1985

1967 - 2021

Lisa Michele Baker Powelson passed away in the early afternoon of Wednesday, April 28, 2021, in her parents’ home in Lindon, Utah. She fought long and hard to stay with those she loves and in a world to which she has given so much, but she passed peacefully, in the end, surrounded by her children, parents, siblings, and newest grandson.

Born in Seattle in 1967, Lisa was rich in experiences before she even graduated from high school. She spent her childhood and early adolescence in Singapore, Fiji, Hong Kong, California, and Taiwan—where she later served as a missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints in 1989 and 1990—before her family moved back to the Los Angeles area in 1982. Even in her adopted home of the Utah Valley, she always remained a California girl, a lover of the beach and of impossibly beautiful coastal sunsets. On repeated oceanside getaways with her family, which she made a priority every summer, she passed this love on to her children and grandchildren, on whom she doted.

Along the way, Lisa was an avid reader, learner, and student. She was a star student and spelling bee champion at Emerson Elementary School, and at Burbank High School she was perfect in the role of Liesl in "The Sound of Music" and gave countless hours in service to the community as a member of National Charity League. She set such a high bar for the three little brothers following her through the Burbank, California public schools, that her teachers were still talking about her a decade later. She went on to earn her bachelor’s degree from Brigham Young University, and interned for a US Senator one summer in Washington, DC. And along with her keen intelligence and quiet wit, the musical talents that Lisa developed while young never left her, or us; her piano-playing was the accompaniment for many a church meeting and the foundation of countless Christmas Eves in the Baker family household.

Lisa’s loving and supportive spirit was nowhere more evident than in her bonds with her children. She encouraged them in all pursuits, whether routine homework assignments or their own individual interests: Ashley’s dance, Audrey’s volleyball, Finn’s soccer and basketball, and Grace’s love of Harry Styles. A woman of many talents and abilities, she was able to support her children by working a diverse array of jobs; she was an insurance adjuster, the assistant to the Dean of Students at the Law School at BYU, and the manager of a bridal boutique. In this position, she went repeatedly to New York City for Bridal Fashion Week and had begun taking her children with her to soak up the culture and history there. Even deep into her fight with stage-four cancer, amidst chemotherapy and repeated procedures, she continued to work in support of her family, tending to keep her own struggles to herself. Lisa was their rock and their shoulder, and one sees her spirit of selflessness, motherly devotion and family foreverness still, in her close-knit children’s bonds with each other and care for each other.

Lisa will be remembered, always, as an unfailingly loving mother and grandmother, daughter and big sister; for her quick, warm smile; and for the incalculable generosity that drove her, even in her own time of trouble and sickness, to reach out to others and offer comfort, consolation and counsel. One of the many songs she played for us on the piano over the years, a sort of favorite in the family, was “Fill the World with Love,” from the 1969 musical Goodbye, Mr. Chips. The final verse would have us ask, in the evening of our life, whether we were brave, and strong, and true, and whether we filled the world with love our whole life through. Lisa did.

Lisa is survived by her parents George and Maureen Baker; her brothers Geoff, Brian, and Matthew; her children and sons-in-law Ashley, Audrey, Grace, Finn, Mitch, and Grub; and her grandchildren Grayson, Covey, and Foster.

Services: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

Chapel Location: Grandview Stake Center | Provo, Utah

Service Option: Webcast via mortuary website

Arrangements: Nelson Family Mortuary

Interment: Provo City Cemetery

Linda Baldino McKendry, BHS 1971

Linda Baldino McKendry, BHS 1971

October 6, 1953 - November 28, 2004 

Linda was born on October 6th, 1953 and baptized at St. Robert Bellarmine church in Burbank, California by her loving parents Fred and Mary Baldino. She attended St. Francis Xavier, John Muir Junior High and Burbank High School. During her school years, Linda played softball, joined the drill team, played guitar and was always a 'Straight-A' student. 

At age 18, Linda married Terry Kehoe, a Vietnam veteran and moved to Minnesota. When Linda and Terry parted ways, she returned to California and started a career in the insurance business where she met Ronald McKendry. Ron and Linda were married July 4th, 1981 in Lake Tahoe and lived in Newport Beach. 

Linda became a certified manicurist and opened her own salon named 'Just Because.' Linda gave birth to Ronni in 1982 and Kelli followed two years later. She was a very proud and loving mother and would do anything for her daughters. In addition to Ronni and Kelli, Linda is survived by her brother Frank Baldino. 

Linda will be remembered for her generosity and willingness to help her friends. Her smile and laugh were contagious and she is deeply missed.

Published by Orange County Register on Aug. 8, 2021.

Alva "Al" Stuart Cooper, BHS 1940

Alva Stuart Cooper, BHS 1940

March 9, 1922 ~ July 1, 2021 (age 99

Alva “Al” Cooper, 99, passed away in his sleep the morning of July 1, 2021 at Sunrise Assisted Living in Sacramento, California. He was born on March 9, 1922 in Alexandria, South Dakota to Mary and Luman Cooper.

Due to a severe draught, which hit the area during the Great Depression, the family left South Dakota eventually settling in Burbank, California in 1936. While living in Burbank, Al was a member of the “1889 Tallyho” float, which won the Grand Sweepstakes at Pasadena Tournament of Roses in 1939. He then went on to graduate from Burbank High School as a member of the Class of 1940. Following graduation, he worked for the Lockheed aircraft factory in Burbank while attending Glendale Community College. After completing his studies at GCC, he enlisted in the Army Air Corps July 1942, earning his pilot wings and flying B24’s out of Italy during World War II. It was during this time that he and his crew were shot down over Vienna, Austria. The group was missing in action for several months. It was a point of pride for Al that not just he, but all of his crew made it back home safely without losing a single soul. For his bravery during the war, Al was awarded the Purple Heart and the Bronze Star. He left active duty March 1945, was discharged from the Army Reserves in 1960 with the rank of Captain.

After the war, Al joined the California Highway Patrol (CHP) in 1948 as a motorcycle Traffic Officer. It was during this time that he served as a member of Governor Earl Warren’s security detail and as the Governor’s personal driver. Al had the honor of being the man who answered the phone when President Eisenhower called to ask Governor Warren to be the next Chief Justice of the United States Supreme Court. Al heard Governor Warren say “Thank you, Mr. President. I will accept the position.”

Al continued to rise through the ranks of the CHP retiring in 1978 as Deputy Commissioner. Not one to be idle, and forever civic minded, he moved on to his next career as an advocate in the California State Legislature. He worked with organizations such as the California Peace Officers’ Association, California Police Chiefs’ Association, and the California State Sheriffs’ Association. He retired from his role with the Sheriffs’ Association in 1998 but continued to represent the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Department until January of 2013 when he finally retired just before his 92nd birthday.

Al was preceded in death by his beloved son, Robert, and is survived by his wife of nearly 70 years, Barbara Buchholz Cooper (whom he met on a blind date), daughter Jill Cooper Coulter and her husband Joseph “Pepper” Coulter, granddaughter Kaitlin Coulter, and great-grandson Collin Coulter-Brown.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to: Seasons Hospice Foundation, 2295 Gateway Oaks Drive, Suite 165, Sacramento, California 95833

Published by All Faith Cremation, Sacramento, California, July 2021