Bob Haws posted this touching tribute to honor his father on Facebook today...
It is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of our father, Glen Walter Haws, who passed away on February 4, 2026, at the age of 90.
Glen was born on September 24, 1935, in Burbank, California, at the home of his grandparents, to parents Glen and Maxine (Odermatt) Haws. A lifelong resident of Burbank, he took great pride in the city that shaped him. One of his favorite childhood stories was serving as paperboy to heavyweight boxing champion Jeff Jeffries — a story he never tired of telling.
He attended Burbank High School, where he met the love of his life, Beverly (Danell) Haws. After graduating in 1953, Glen enlisted in the United States Marine Corps. Following boot camp at Camp Pendleton, he returned home to elope with his 17-year-old sweetheart before being deployed to Japan and Korea. In 1956, they welcomed their first son, John, while living in a trailer at Camp Pendleton.
After his honorable discharge from the Marines in 1956, Glen worked as an apprentice machinist at Mitchell Cameras in Glendale before achieving what he considered his true calling. On September 1, 1957, he was hired as a firefighter for the City of Burbank — becoming a proud second-generation Burbank firefighter, following in the footsteps of his father, who joined the department in 1943.
In those early years, when firefighter pay was modest, Glen worked multiple jobs to provide for his growing family. He drove his Model A Ford pickup to local dairies, loaded it with manure, and sold it door-to-door, spreading it on lawns throughout the neighborhood. He also worked as a plasterer and painter — doing whatever it took to build a stable life for his family.
In 1959, their second son, James, was born. The following year, Glen purchased a home on Kenneth Road in Burbank, where he would live for the rest of his life. Robert was born in 1962, and their daughter Linda (Wright) in 1968, completing their family of four children.
Over his 40-year career with the Burbank Fire Department, Glen rose through the ranks, promoting to Engineer and later to Captain in 1973. Being a firefighter was not just his profession — it was his dream. He loved the camaraderie, the service, and the stories that came with the job. Though he retired in 1998 due to a medical condition, it was a career he never truly wanted to leave.
Glen was a storyteller at heart. He cherished sharing memories of growing up in Burbank and recounting his years on the fire department. His life was rooted in family, hard work, and dedication to his community.
He is survived by his children: John and daughter-in-law Kathy; Robert and daughter-in-law Terrie; and Linda and son-in-law Mark Wright; seven grandchildren; eleven great-grandchildren; and his sister, Donna Edwards. He was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Beverly, in 2009, and his son James in 2025.
Glen’s legacy lives on in the family he built, the city he loved, and the department he proudly served.
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