Roy W. Van Holm, BHS 1940

Roy W. Van Holm, BHS 1940

Roy W. Van Holm (VSLPSTSIDO, Ind.)

Roy W. Van Holm, 81, of Valparaiso, Ind., formerly of Wedowee and Burbank, Calif., died Friday, Aug. 1, 2003, in Valparaiso.

He was born Dec. 9, 1921, in Oconto, Wis., son of Anton and Agnes Van Holm. He was a graduate of Burbank High School in Burbank, Calif., a World War II Navy veteran, and a retired tool maker. On July 18, 1954, in Las Vegas, he married Lola Donley, who preceded him in death in 2000.

He is survived by a son, Brian Van Holm of Roswell, Ga.; a daughter, Robbin Benacka of Valparaiso; a stepson, Gary Meyers of Burbank, Calif.; a sister, Dolores Tabb of Burbank; eight grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren. He was preceded by his parents, wife, and stepdaughter, Karen Barnhart.

Following cremation at Angelcrest Crematory in Valparaiso, private family services will be held.

Kenneth William Howell, BHS 1943

Kenneth William Howell, BHS 1943

From Yavapai County, Arizona, 6 February 2008

Kenneth William Howell, 73, died Monday, May 31, 1999, at the Veterans Affairs Medical Center nursing facility, following a long illness. He was born Aug. 16, 1925, in Denver, Colo., to Kenneth Wood Howell and Helen Louise (Hinman) Howell. He had lived in Prescott since 1983.

Mr. Howell was educated in southern California, attending Burbank High School, Occidental College and the University of Southern California in the V12 program during World War II. He served in the U.S. Marine Corps, and was stationed in both Parris Island, S.C., and Quantico, Va., where he was commissioned in 1946.

He was called back to the Marine Corps to serve in Korea, and remained in the Marine Corps Reserve until 1962, when he left as the captain of an artillery unit. He received his degree in civil engineering and land surveying from the University of Wyoming, in 1949. After operating his own engineering office in Cody, Wyo., he joined the engineering firm of Stearns-Rogers and headed projects in Colorado, Georgia and Arizona.

He was employed by Martin-Marietta in Littleton, Colo., where he was most proud of his work in developing the lunar drill used on the moon landing. He entered a graduate program for a master's degree in anthropology at the University of Denver, after which he taught the summer field school for several years for Southern Methodist University at the Archaeological Research Center at Fort Burgwin in Taos, N.M.

Mr. Howell was a Mason and a member of the National Honorary Engineering Society, Sigma Tau. He was an Eagle Scout, and remained active in scouting most of his life, earning a Silver Beaver, in 1966, in the Denver Area Council. He was a member of the Yavapai Chapter of the Arizona Archaeological Society and taught several archaeology classes for the state society.

He was a founding member of the Prescott Airport Users Association, and a member of the Copper State Detachment of the U.S. Marine Corps. He was very active in the Smoki Museum, where he was elected to the Board of Trustees in 1992, and subsequently served as board chairman and director of the museum for several years.

Mr. Howell married Helena McIver Bradley in 1969, and they lived in Littleton, Colo. He retired in 1983, and the couple moved to Prescott. Survivors include his wife, Helena; sister, Myra Ford of Glendale; son, Kenneth of Goffstown, N.H.; daughters, Dee Warner of Broomfield, Colo., and Amy Hoover of Thornton, Colo.; stepdaughter, Katie Jones of Prescott; stepson, Craig Bradley of Eagle River, Alaska; five grandchildren and three step-grandchildren.

A memorial service will be held at 3 p.m. Wednesday, June 9, at Hampton Funeral Home, 240 S. Cortez St. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial donations be made in Mr. Howell's name to the Smoki Museum, P.O. Box 10224, Prescott, AZ 86304. Hampton Funeral Home helped the family with arrangements.

Betty Steinkolk, BHS Principal

Betty Steinkolk, BHS Principal

March 18, 1928 - June 06, 2009 Valley Center, CA

Memorial Service: 10:00 a.m. June 20, 2009 at St Stephen's Catholic Church, 31020 Cole Grade Rd., Valley Center Interment: , at Beaver Creek, Minnesota Betty had no children. She leaves her husband of 44 years, Richard Steinkolk, one surviving sibling, her brother Donald, in Occoquan, Virginia; and numerous nephews and nieces scattered throughout the United States.

She was officially born Elizabeth Jean Ohs in Owatonna, Minnesota on March 18, 1928, the daughter of Merle and Emma Ohs. She had naturally bright red hair and a temper to match. She was the 4th child of a family with six children. Betty never liked her given name of Elizabeth and renamed herself Betty Jean Ohs.

She was reared in Little Falls Minnesota where she attended the local public schools. She graduated with a degree in teaching from the University of Minnesota in Saint Cloud and taught elementary school in Minnesota for three years before moving to Southern California. She received her Masters degree at Cal State Northridge and also a California reading specialist credential.

She initially taught in Redondo Beach, CA for a year, but didn't like the damp coastal climate. She then applied for a teaching job with the Burbank Unified School District. When she was in a group interviewing session she answered the following question "what was the best thing you did last year" with the retort "I taught a non-reader to read". She was hired on the spot. Betty was a teacher, principal and administrator for the next 34 years until she retired.

She substituted after retirement as a temporary acting principal for various schools, including a full year stretch as the principal of Burbank High School. She married her husband Richard in 1965. They resided in Sherman Oaks for the next 34 years before moving to Valley Center. They purchased property in Valley Center in 1976, developed an avocado and orange grove, built their "dream house" and finally moved to VC in 1999.

Alhiser-Comer Mortuary225 South Broadway, Escondido, CA 92025760-745-2162

Richard "Dick" Garard, BHS 1946

Richard "Dick" Garard, BHS 1946

Richard "Dick" Garard, 82, of Owensboro, Kentucky died Saturday, June 5, 2010, at Owensboro Medical Health System.

He was born January 23, 1928 and raised in Burbank, California, moved to San Diego in 1996 and then moved to Owensboro in June 2007 to be with his daughter and son-in-law at Diamond Lake Resort. He was a Navy veteran of World War II and was Past Exalted Ruler of the Elks Lodge #1496 in Burbank, CA.

He is survived by his wife of 17 years, Jan Garard; two daughters and sons-in-law, Janice and Brian Smith of Owensboro and Jill and Malcolm Thomas of Northridge, CA; five grandchildren, Brianne Smith, Amy Smith, Chelsea Thomas, Keith Thomas and Mason Thomas and a sister, Bettie Hummel of Encinitas, CA.

Memorial services will be at 6:00 p.m. on Thursday, June 10, at Faith Lutheran Church, 2830 Frederica St., Owensboro, KY with a reception to immediately follow in the church hall. James H. Davis Funeral Home & Crematory in Owensboro, KY is in charge of arrangements.

Expressions of sympathy may take the form of donations to the American Cancer Society, 1302 Frederica St., Owensboro, KY 42301.

Josephine Robins Bailey, BHS 1925

Josephine Robins Bailey, BHS 1925

Burbank Leader, June 2009

Josephine (Robins) Bailey passed away at home Tuesday, June 30, 2009.

A native Californian, she was born December 13, 1907, in Boyle Heights area of Los Angeles. In 1920, after having lived for a time in Bishop, CA, the family moved to Burbank, and in 1925 she graduated from Burbank High School and began working for the Burbank Public Library. She married Robert L. Bailey, a designer and advertising executive, in 1936. He passed away in 1982. They had one daughter, Carolyn.

Jo's passion for travel, bridge, reading and her family filled her life. She was a member of Chapter U, P.E.O., La Providencia Guild of the Children's Hospital, Zonta, the Burbank Historical Society, Burbank Friends of the Library, and the Burbank Senior Bulldogs. She also was involved in supporting the Burbank Sister City Committee and the Burbank YMCA as well as PTA and Girl Scouts. Many of the Robins/Bailey artifacts reside at the Burbank Historical Society where she was a docent. Last fall she was honored as the Grand Marshall of the Burbank High School Centennial Parade.

Jo (or "Nana" as she was known to many the past 30 years) balanced work, motherhood, family, and community service with grace. She filled her life with interesting activities and wonderful people who kept her vital and happy for over a century. She is survived by her daughter, Carolyn Grogan; granddaughter Tracey (Martin) Grogan-Collazos and great-grandson Liam; grandson Christopher (Karen Escalante) Grogan; niece Mary (Robert) Taddeo and their daughter Taryn; and other cousins and family. Her siblings, Don and Tom Robins and Carolyn (Robins) Donnet preceded her in death.

A gathering in her honor will be held at 10:00 a.m., Saturday, July 11 at the Holiday Inn Carousel room, 150 Angelino Ave., Burbank, CA.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Burbank Historical Society, Senior Bulldogs, La Providencia Guild of the Children's Hospital or Friends of the Burbank Library.

Mary Catherine Johnson Smith, BHS 1942

Mary Catherine Johnson Smith, BHS 1942

NASHUA - Mary Catherine Smith, 79, of Baldwin Street, died Friday, Sept. 16, 2005, at the Southern New Hampshire Medical Center in Nashua after a lengthy illness.
Born in Wisconsin on Dec. 17, 1925, she was the daughter of the late Clarence and Irma (Gessert) Johnson.

She was the wife of Walter J. Smith, whom she married on Aug. 27, 1946, in Reno, Nev. The couple recently celebrated their 59th wedding anniversary.
Mrs. Smith was a graduate of Burbank High School in Burbank, Calif., with the Class of 1942.
During World War II, Mrs. Smith worked for Warner Bros. Studios in California and was a longtime Nashua Realtor.

In addition to her parents, she was predeceased by a daughter, Amy F. Smith, who died Jan. 3, 2004, and two sisters, Betty Banner and Ruth Annette Johnson.

Besides her husband, she is survived by five sons and a daughter-in-law, Kevin W. and Debra J. Smith, and Steven Smith, all of Nashua, Brian F. Smith and Matthew P. Smith of Portsmouth, and Daniel J. Smith of Sanford, Maine; three daughters and two sons-in-law, Cathlin L. Smith of Portsmouth, Melissa E. and Nathaniel Hall of Nashua, and Mary E. and Keith Tinker of Hudson; 15 grandchildren; and a niece and two nephews.

WE REMEMBER: At age 12, Mrs. Smith moved with her family to Burbank, Calif., where she lived until 1967, when she moved to Nashua. Mrs. Smith later resided in York, Maine, before moving back to Nashua.

She was an artist and held membership in the Copley Society of Boston, and was a communicant of St. Christopher Church in Nashua. Mrs. Smith was a loving mother to her nine children.

SERVICES: Calling hours will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. on Wednesday at the Farwell Funeral Home, 18 Lock St., Nashua. A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated in St. Christopher Church, 62 Manchester St., Nashua, at 11 a.m. on Thursday. Burial will follow in Edgewood Cemetery. All are invited to gather at the church.

Ruth Evelyn Barret Scott McPherson, BHS 1941

Ruth Evelyn Scott McPherson, BHS 1941

Ruth Evelyn Scott McPherson, 77, of Ashland, died Sunday (March 3, 2002) at Skylark Assisted Living Center in Ashland. A private service will be held. Interment will be in Santa Rosa, Calif.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Salvation Army, P.O. Box 2823, Portland, OR 97208.

She was born Oct. 10, 1924, in Memphis, a daughter of Noel E. and Bertha Barret. Prior to World War II, her family moved to Burbank, Calif., where she graduated from Burbank High School in 1941.

During World War II, she was a lead accountant for McDonnell Douglas. In 1944, she married Dale Scott. They divorced in 1955. On Nov. 19, 1959, in Reno, Nev., she married Bert Arthur McPherson, who preceded her in death. They lived in various communities in Northern California, including Cloverdale, Rohnert Park, Citrus Heights and North Bend.

The McPhersons owned and operated Coos Bay Salvage in Coos Bay. In 1982 and 1983, Mrs. McPherson attended Southwestern Oregon College in Coos Bay. She moved to Ashland in 1998.
She was an accomplished potter, winning blue ribbons at several shows. She enjoyed playing bridge and making crafts.

Survivors include two sons, Geoffrey, Ashland, Jonathan, Richmond, Calif.; a daughter, Patricia Long, Moss Beach, Calif.; two sisters, two brothers; five grandchildren; and eight great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by a son, Michael.

Arrangements: Litwiller-Simonsen Funeral Home and Crematory, Ashland.

The Mail Tribune, March 2002

Dorothy "Dottie" Sickler Remy Quinlan, BHS 1950

Dorothy "Dottie" Sickler Remy Quinlan, BHS 1950

Dorothy "Dottie" Remy Quinlan, passed away April 1, 2007 in Fort Lauderdale, Florida with family by her side. She was born January 10, 1933 in Glendale, California to the late Charles and Valborg Sickler of Burbank, California. She attended school in Burbank, graduating from Burbank High School, then attended Palos Verdes College and Glendale College in Southern California and graduated from Augustana College in Rock Island, Illinois.

Dottie was an elementary school teacher for the City of Los Angeles School District for over 20 years. Upon retirement she and her late husband, Paul moved to Lake Nacimiento, California. In 1999 they relocated in Fort Lauderdale, Florida to be closer to family.

All her life Dottie loved to read, but her greatest love was fishing, first from the lakes and streams in the High Sierras (Aberdeen) and later from her boat at Lake Nacimiento. In later years, she enjoyed playing the poker machines in Las Vegas and honing her skills on her computer. She also enjoyed crossword puzzles, sewing, painting, Notre Dame Football and anything about Ireland.

Dottie is survived by her children, Kevin Remy and wife, Lorrie, Dan Remy and his wife, Tanya, all of Fort Lauderdale, Florida, and Kathy Silvey and her husband, Scott of Omaha, Nebraska; grandchildren, Brooke Remy, Zack Remy and Max Remy of Fort Lauderdale, Florida, Payne Silvey and Hunter Silvey of Omaha, Nebraska, and Kacey Remy of Burbank, California; and sister, Jane Dege of Fort Collins, Colorado. All who knew her loved her and she will be greatly missed by her family and friends.

The Sun Sentinel, Florida, April 21, 2007

Elizabeth Daniel De La Mare, BHS 1934

Elizabeth Daniel De La Mare, BHS 1934

Elizabeth (Betty) De La Mare; Special Effects Expert

October 04, 1990, Los Angeles Times

Elizabeth (Betty) De La Mare, an award-winning special effects expert, has died in Granada Hills. She was 73. Mrs. De La Mare died Monday of complications from Alzheimer's disease, said her daughter-in-law, Sharon Bell.

Born Elizabeth Daniel on Nov. 12, 1916, in Fresno, she graduated from Burbank High School. In 1952, she and her husband, Glenn, started De La Mare Engineering Inc., a special effects manufacturing company in San Fernando. For her dedication to the research and development of special effects pyrotechnics, she received a technical achievement award from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences in 1984. She was a longtime resident of Sylmar before she moved to a convalescent home in Granada Hills.

She is survived by her son, George Jackman of Granada Hills; stepsons William and Doug De La Mare of Duvall, Wash.; brothers Ken Daniel of Torrance, Jim Daniel of Moses Lake, Wash., and John Daniel of Asheville, N.C.; a grandson and a great-granddaughter. Her husband died in 1979.

Visitation is planned from 5 to 8:30 p.m. today at Pierce Brothers Valhalla Mortuary, 10621 Victory Blvd. in North Hollywood, which is handling the arrangements. A funeral is scheduled for 2:30 p.m. Friday at Pierce Brothers Valhalla Mortuary, with burial to follow at Valhalla Memorial Park in North Hollywood.

Donations to Alzheimer's disease research can be made in Mrs. De La Mare's name to The Regents of the University of California, UCLA Center for the Health Sciences, 10833 Le Conte Ave., Los Angeles 90027-1724.

Norman C. Rogers, BHS 1939

Norman C. Rogers, BHS 1939

Nov. 6, 1920 - Nov. 7, 2001

Norman C. "Bucky" Rogers, 81, was born in Calgary, Canada to Herbert P. Rogers and Vivian Rogers. Mr. Rogers served in the United States Navy from 1942 to 1946 and was on the U.S.S. Hornet when it sank. He graduated from Burbank High School in 1939 and married Betty Gridley on June 22, 1946 in Burbank. He was a school bus driver and custodian for the Paradise Unified School District for 30 years until he retired in 1983.

He enjoyed oil painting, stained glass, fishing, and gardening, loved music and played the violin at a young age. He also played the clarinet in the high school band, and marched at the Rose Bowl several times. He also played the piano and organ.

His wife, Betty A. Rogers of Paradise; son, Mike Rogers and grandson, Matt Rogers, of Paradise, survive him.

No services are planned. Donations may be made to Feather River Hospital Hospice. Paradise Chapel of the Pines is making arrangements.