Monday, November 24, 2025
December Senior Bulldog Holiday Luncheon Reminder - DECEMBER 1, 2025
Monday, October 27, 2025
A Story of Murder: Victim Sandi Wilkes, BHS '69 (1950-1970)
This is a very sad and tragic story...
I had Mr. Pyne for English in my junior year.
I had the good fortune of sitting at the same table as Louise Good Hernandez at the 45th Class Reunion, and for some reason, the subject of former Burbank High teacher, Raymond Pyne, came up. He was my English teacher in my junior year and perhaps some of you had him for English, also. 1967 was apparently his first year at Burbank High. I recall coming home on weekends during my college years, and reading about a story in the Burbank Daily Review of a murder committed by a Burbank High teacher, but I couldn’t remember who it was. So it was Louise who gave me his name.
The Burbank Daily Review ceased publication in 1985, but is archived at the Burbank Public Library, where I sent my sister, Margo (BHS’70) to read the old microfilm. The story was on the front page of three consecutive issues, January 23, 24, and 25, 1970. Here’s what she found out.
Raymond Pyne was Sandy Wilkes’ 12th grade English teacher. After she graduated, he asked her for a date. At that time, he was age 28 and described as charming and jolly in public by the Wilkes family. They married, and within two weeks he exhibited a violent, uncontrollable temper. Pyne assaulted her by choking her, and threatened to kill her. An arrest warrant for battery was issued. He once said he wanted his wife to die like Romeo and Juliet.
A few days before she was killed, Sandy filed for divorce. Pyne had been roaming her parents’ neighborhood where she was staying, threatening to take his own life. She talked him out of taking his own life and told him she loved him and would stand by him, but she was too afraid to live with him.
Sandra Wilkes Pyne, BHS’69, age 19, was murdered by her husband, former BHS teacher Raymond Pyne
She had been living with her parents for about two weeks. On Thursday morning about 8 a.m., January 23, 1970, her father, Guy Wilkes, went to the backyard to start the car before taking Sandy to work at Technicolor, where they both worked. Pyne pointed a rifle at Wilkes’ head and demanded to talk to Sandy. After asking Guy for the keys to the house, Guy yelled to warn the family. Mrs. Wilkes tried to phone for help, but the phone was dead. Sandy, meanwhile, ran out the front door to head to a friend’s house. Pyne heard the door slam and ran to the front of the house. He pursued her, aimed, then shot her in the head, killing her instantly. Guy Wilkes, who had followed Pyne, shot at him, but missed. He later said he didn’t shoot again because there were other people standing around. He ran to help his daughter and was holding her when she took her last breath. Pyne drove away in a leased 1969 black Cadillac.
The incident was witnessed by five teenage boys.
Police think Pyne may have spent the night on the back porch. An army-type jacket, trench coat, flashlight and tire iron were found there, plus numerous gum wrappers.
Pyne had resigned voluntarily from Burbank High School after his second year of teaching and was to have started a new job the next day. He surrendered to Burbank Police on Saturday afternoon. On February 21, 1971, he pled guilty to first degree murder and sentencing was set for March 26, 1971. He was incarcerated for years, but by 2010 he was paroled, according to Linda Mustion who writes a blog about deceased Burbank High Alumni. Apparently, Raymond Pyne was also a Burbank High alum, class of 1959.
June 1941 - July 4, 2013
Louise Hernandez remembered that the Pyne family moved from Kenwood Street before he became a teacher at Burbank High, and that there were other siblings.
I found Raymond Pyne’s obituary at redding.com:
Raymond Pyne, 72, of Cottonwood died Thursday at Mercy Medical Center in Redding. Arrangements are pending at Allen & Dahl Funeral Chapel in Redding. Published in Redding Record Searchlight on July 6, 2013.
NOVEMBER 1, 2025 UPDATE
“We were good friends. Her mom buried her in her wedding gown saying that was the last time she saw her daughter happy. My dad saw a small newspaper article 3 years later saying he was released from prison claiming psychiatric problems. So horrible our justice system was and is. π‘”
Saturday, October 25, 2025
November Senior Bulldogs Thanksgiving Luncheon Reminder
Monday, November 3, 2025, will be our Senior Bulldogs "Thanksgiving Dinner" Luncheon. Circle the date on your calendars and we will plan to meet you there.
Time: 11:00AM
Cost: $16 per person
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Also, Please remember that Tuesday, November 11, 2025, Burbank will be holding its annual Veterans Day Ceremony at McCambridge Park War Memorial/Rose Garden/Eternal Flame at 11:00AM. Our own Mickey DePalo BHS '64 will of course, be the Emcee. At 10:15AM, the Burbank Community Band will perform a Pre-Ceremony Concert. Please join us in remembering and honoring and thanking our US Veterans.
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Don't forget that in DECEMBER, at our Holiday Luncheon, Greg Alaimo '66 and Dave Nicholson '74, will be "heading up" the Annual TOYS FOR TOTS TOY DRIVE. Please plan to bring a new un-wrapped toy or two for a child or young teen who is less fortunate. Greg has coordinated with the Burbank Police Department to pick up and transport the toys in one of their armored police vehicles. This is a great community effort, where we come together to ensure that less fortunate/deserving children and young teens are not forgotten during the Christmas/Hanukkah Holidays.
See you all on Monday, November 3, 2025...Come hungry!
Pam and Jon
Friday, October 24, 2025
John Pette, BHS '86 (1967-2025)
Judy Hale Jonas, Former BHS History Teacher Recently Passed Away (1944-2025)
Just received this sad note from Penny Jonas Barth, BHS '66...
My sister-in-law, Judy Hale Jonas, former BHS history teacher passed away Saturday, Oct 18 at her home in Scottsdale, AZ following a 2-yr battle with CA. She taught at BHS for about 15 years, from 1984 on.
She is survived by her husband of 58 years, Jeff Jonas (BHS 1958), 4 children, all BHS alumni - Shani Ossmen; Jennifer Watkins (Mark); Mike (Jenni); Jason (Trina), 10 grandchildren, brothers Rick and Bryan Hale, sister-in-law Marianne Jonas Eastmond (Steve) BHS ‘63, Penny Jonas Barth BHS ‘66 and nearly 40 loving nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by an infant daughter, her parents, brother Nathan, and Jeff’s sister and brother-in-law, Carolyn (BHS ‘55) and John Harmer.
Funeral services will be held the day before what would have been Judy’s 81st birthday, Saturday, November 8th, 10:00 AM at the Larkspur Chapel, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Messinger Pinnacle Scottsdale Mortuary coordinating.
A FEW FACEBOOK COMMENTS...
Had Mrs. Jonas in JBHS. Enjoyed her class. May she rest in peace.
Martin Lillibridge
RIP Bulldog π
Loanne Walker Ginchereaux
π
Patrick Peters
Rest easy Mrs J. Such an amazing teacher.
Loved Mrs Jonas. So sorry to hear of her passing. Remember her daughter Shani too. God bless the family πππΌ
No way π’π’π’π
I’m sorry to hear this. Jenny, if you see this I’m sorry for your loss. Your mom was always so nice to all of us. Prayers to you and your family.
Yea she was very cool π teacher π©π«
What a beautiful woman ! Sad to loose another Bulldog . Condolences to her large family !
Rest in peace ππ»π
Rest in Peace ⚘️
My favorite high school teacher. RIP. Sending positive vibes to her family.
so so sad! Rip ππ»❤️
Sorry to hear, prayers with you Jeff—miss you guys!
Exactly how I remember her π
So sorry to hear of her passing! π’
Such a very sweet lady. Rest in eternity sweet Judy.
She was a great teacher. May her memory be eternal.
ππͺ
So sorry to hear this. ❤️&π to family and friends.
I’m so so sorry. She not only was an amazing teacher but a good friend. God Blessπππ
So sorry to hear of yet another loss
Condolences to her family
Penny Jonas Barth, I’m so sorry that Judy has died. Love to your brother and the rest of your family.
One of my favs, sad to hear of her passing.
A kind and beautiful woman
Saddened........She was the Matriarch of one of Burbank's 'Greatest Families.'!!
Such a memorable teacher, prayers for the Jonas family❣️
❤️π❤️
So sorry to hear this. She was the best.
Such a great teacher π RIP
π
May she rest in peace to Eternity πΉ
Rest in peace!
Love ❤️ and prayers to the Jonas family. What an incredible teacher and mentor Ms Jonas was. Thank you for your guidance and goodness π
Such a beautiful person inside and out! Such sad news.
Awww she was so sweet . My condolences and prayers to the family ❤️ππΌ
π’π€²π½
Prayers go out got her family at this time.
No way Mrs Jonasπ’π’ RIP
RIP, Ma’am π₯²
Condolences to the Jonas family ❤️
Great teacher. Thoughts and prayers to her family.
πππ»π
She was a great teacher and a big supporter of everyone. So sad.
Miss Judy π
Ah man she was so cool
She was such a good teacher, RIP. My thoughts and prayers go out to her family.
Thursday, October 23, 2025
Historic Tragedy: 1951 Jeep accident the night before graduation took the lives of Ken Harrison, Larry Hughes and Bob Tinker
This is heartbreaking... for more details, please click on the Find A Grave links.












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