Paul Dwight Thomas, BHS 1952

Paul Dwight Thomas, BHS 1952

August 27, 1934 – February 22, 2020

When Paul was 5 years old, his family relocated from Missouri Valley, Iowa to Southern California. The family settled in Burbank and bought houses to fix up and sell. It was from this that he learned his sense for working hard. 

He attended Emerson Elementary, John Muir Junior High, and Burbank High. After graduation, he toured the USA in his 1932 Roadster before enlisting in the Army and serving on a troop ship in Germany. Through the G.I. Bill, he was able to attend Glendale College, and where he met his wife-to-be Elaine Dickes in 1956. They were married in 1958, finished college together (at what is now CSUN), and had two children, Kevin and Karen. 

Paul started his career as an insurance adjuster, then launched his own business as a handyman. He had a special gift for providing comedy relief, and was always friendly to everyone. Paul and Elaine were married for nearly 62 years.

Suzanne Waite Hays, BHS 1964

Suzanne Waite Hays, BHS 1964

Published in the Los Angeles Times, Friday, January 16, 2004

Suzanne Waite Hays of Newport Beach, passed away January 11, 2004. She is survived by her mother, Betty Waite Taylor; brother, Chuck Waite; nephew, Charlie Waite, III; stepbrother, Richard D. Taylor.

Respecting Suzanne’s wishes, private family services were held at Pacific View Memorial Park. Find A Grave Memorial

For those who wish to honor her, donations may be made in her name to the American Cancer Society or the charity of your choice. 

Dignity Memorial handled the arrangements. 

Brian Allen Lowe, BHS 1958

Brian Allen Lowe, BHS 1958

News Pilot, San Pedro, California, Saturday, August 4, 1962

DEATH OF BOY STILL MYSTERY

TIJUANA - The District Attorney's office said Friday the death of a Burbank policeman's son is still a mystery. Deputy Dist. Atty. Guillermo Bertram said the victim, Brian Allen Lowe, 22, apparently died of internal bleeding.

Police originally said Lowe died of an overdose of toxic pills. Lowe's nude body was found Wednesday in a downtown motel. Police said they found an envelope containing pills in Lowe's room, which appeared to be barbiturates. The coroner's office said Friday there was no evidence of barbiturates in the body.

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Valley Times, North Hollywood, California, Tuesday, August 28, 1962

POLICEMAN'S SON DIED OF POISONING

The death of a Burbank policeman's son in Tijuana has been attributed to toxic poisoning, it was learned today. 

Brian Allen Lowe, 22, 3306 N. Lamer Street, was found dead in a Tijuana motel room last August 1, and a private autopsy, financed by the victim's family, determined the cause of death. The victim's father, Patrolman Harold N. Lowe, said futher tests would be required to ascertain the nature of poison.

Tijuana authorities had originally attributed cause of death to internal bleeding.

Steven Warren Kant, BHS 1967

Steven Warren Kant, BHS 1967

Los Angeles Times, Friday, September 25, 1992

 Steven Warren Kant, age 43, passed away on August 20, 1992 in Sherman Oaks, California, following a long battle with A.I.D.S. He is survived by his parents, William and Vivian Kant of Burbank, California; his sister, Debbie Kant Smith of Fontana, California; and many dear friends.

Steven spent most of his life in the Los Angeles area, then moved to Santa Fe in November, 1987, with his life-partner, Louis Sawaya, and his daughter, Morgan Sawaya. Steven was a Science of Mind Practitioner and taught at the Church of Religious Science in Santa Fe.

A Memorial Service will be held at Founders Church, 3281 W. 6th Street, Los Angeles, on September 27, 1992 at 12:20 p.m. Donations in lieu of flowers may be made to Search Alliance, 7461 Beverly Blvd, suite 304, Los Angeles, California, 90036.

David Read French, BHS 1973

David Read French, BHS 1973

November 28, 1954 to June 21, 2023

David Read French 68, passed away June 21, 2023. David was born November 28, 1954 to Milton and Frances French at St. Joseph hospital in Burbank, California. He is survived by half sister Amy Blocker of Chino Valley, Arizona, step sister, Regina French Mattingly of White Oak, Texas. Several uncles and aunts, and many nieces and nephews.

David was born and raised in Burbank, California and started playing guitar at a very young age. He was a member of the track team at John Muir Junior High and Burbank High School where he won awards in track. He worked at “Small Veterinary Hospital” when he was in high school and had a passion for cats. He graduated from Burbank High School class of 1973. He went to college at Pearce Junior College and the University of Davis, California. He traveled the United States for many years and worked as a carpenter.

He was preceded in death by his father Milton Read French; mother Frances French McCoy; stepmother Marilyn Fern.

OMEGA Funeral & Cremation Service, Oregon

Lea Ann Clark Prestia, BHS 1977

Lea Ann Clark Prestia, BHS 1977

October 31, 1959 - January 15, 2022

Lea Ann Prestia passed away at home on Jan. 15, 2022, after a long illness.

Born in Athens, Ohio, on Oct. 31 1959, Lea Ann lived with her parents and sister Shelley in Ohio.  She visited her grandparents often and enjoyed the seasons, which included walking in corn fields, building igloos in the winter and catching fireflies in the summer.

However, a job offer in California got the young family moving to Southern California in the early 60’s.

She attended Thomas Edison Elementary, Luther Burbank Junior High and Burbank High School, where she was the starting catcher on the BHS Girls Varsity Softball team.  Upon graduation, she went on to get her college degree at Cal State Northridge.

Lea Ann saw her future husband, Russ, while attending a church “singles” event.  They sat close to one another, but never met.  Luckily, an after-event gathering at a nearby restaurant gave them a second chance to meet. They were together ever since.

The couple wed in 1994 and enjoyed being each other’s best friend until the time of her death in Prescott, Arizona.

Their backyard gazebo was a favorite spot for Lea, who enjoyed gardening and taking in the view of her beautiful flower garden.

Lea Ann is survived by her husband, Russell, mother, Vera, sisters, Shelley and Cindy, and brother, Randy.   She was a beloved aunt to Matt, Krysta, Rachael and Olivia.

A memorial service has already been held in Prescott, Arizona.

Published in Burbank Leader/Outlook Newspaper, January 2022

Ernest B. Johnson, Jr., BHS 1974

Ernest B. Johnson, Jr., BHS 1974

Ernest B. Johnson, Jr was born November 1, 1955 in Whittier, California, and passed away on October 16, 2006, surrounded by all of his family and close friends.

Ernest, also known to his family as “Butch”, left us way too soon. Butch lived here in Burbank most of his life. He enjoyed spending time with his family and friends, and watching wrestling.

All who knew Butch knew what a great man he was. He loved his friends, adored his family, and was great with his nieces and nephews. Not having any kids of his own, he took all of his nieces and nephews under his wing. He had a huge heart. He did whatever he could to help the people in his life, even as his health declined he was there for us, Our Rock. We know he is in a better place.

He has joined our dad, and will be watching over us from the Heavens. We love him deeply and will miss him more than words can express. 

Ernest is survived by his mother, June Johnson; sisters, Rita Hisel and Sharon Castle; brother, Kenny Johnson; also by his four nephews, three nieces, two great nephews, and five great nieces.

Posted on his Find A Grave Memorial by - So We Always Remember

Edward Joseph Howitt, BHS 1975

Edward Joseph Howitt, BHS 1975

Published in the Simi Valley Star, Sunday, June 18, 1978

Viral infection was death cause

A Burbank man, Edward Howitt, 21, was found dead in a Simi Valley residence on Ralston Avenue, Friday afternoon, according to Simi Valley police. 

Howitt apparently was visiting friends. He was found in bed by a friend after he had been dead several hours. A coroner’s investigation determined that Howitt died from a viral infection.

Douglas Arthur Garbers, BHS 1972

Douglas Arthur Garbers, BHS 1972

Santa Ynez Valley News, Tuesday, August 5, 2014

Morning blaze burns mobile home, leaves one dead

Firefighters found body of Douglas Arthur Garders

When Lynne Morian awoke to the smell of smoke in her trailer early Thursday morning, her first move was to open her curtains to see what was happening. Outside, she saw flames had engulfed a nearby trailer. “I thought, “It can catch on to other trailers.” Morian said. “Some people have propane. That could’ve blown this place apart.” 

The early morning blaze fully involved a mobile home at 815 N. O Street in Lompoc, the location of Continental Mobile Home Park. The Lompoc Fire Department, the Santa Barbara County Fire Department and Vandenberg Fire Department responded to reports of a fire at a single-wide mobile home at 1:55 a.m., according to Lompoc Fire Chief Kurt Laipow. The fire threatened several nearby mobile homes.

Inside, firefighters found the body of a man, identified as Douglas Arthur Garbers who was 60 years old. The Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Coroner’s Office will conduct an autopsy to verify the cause of death. The Lompoc Fire Department ruled that the blaze was accidental, Laipow said. The fire was likely related to smoking, he said. 

The home did not have smoke alarms and had an excessive accumulation of personal belongings, all of which contributed to the fire, Laripow said. “All those factors made for a very fast-moving, hot fire,” He said. “Most likely, by the time the occupant realized it. It was too late. When our first engine got there, the trailer was well-involved to a point that surviving it would not been possible.” 

In light of the fire, the Community Action Commissions (CAC) of Santa Barbara County announced that it is currently offering services to make low-income households safer. The CAC provides free smoke alarms, gas appliance safety testing and carbon monoxide detectors, according to Central Administrative Services Distractor Holly Carmody.

Mobile home park resident Fernando Tabin said his dog, Nemo, alerted him and Marian to the fire. The pair could not get back to sleep four about an hour and a half because of the excessive smoke, he said.

Other neighbors in the surrounding mobile homes said Garbers was a hermit who moved to Continental Mobile Home Park in 2009. He mainly kept to himself, they said. Tony Martinez, who lives next door to the home involved in the blaze, said another neighbor beat on his door at 2 a.m. to tell him his home was on fire. But after seeing the Fire Department’s work, Martinez said he did not worry about his safety.

Martinez said Garbors stayed in his home most of the time. “The guy didn’t come out much.” He said. “He had a bad hip. He couldn’t really move around.”

Dennis Woolley Patterson, BHS 1968

Dennis Woolley Patterson, BHS 1968

November 16, 1949 – December 15, 1991

Los Angeles Times, Saturday, December 28, 1991

Dennis Woolley Patterson, age 42; survived by sons; James B. and Joseph D.; daughter, Elizabeth Ann, mother, Minerva; sister, Joan Holmstrom, four nephews and two nieces.

Services 10 a.m. Monday, at Lakewood Third Ward Latter Day Saints Church, 17660 Carpentero, Bellflower. Spongberg Mortuary, Long Beach.