90-year-old former Burbank Unified teacher killed in car crash

A 90-year-old former Burbank Unified middle school teacher and his wife died last week after a car crash near their home in central Washington, according to district officials and news reports.

Charles Kramer and his wife Brunilda were struck on Nov. 19 while making a left turn in Malaga, Washington, where they have lived for more than two decades, The Wenatchee World reported.

The couple was transported to a local hospital where Brunilda, 88, died on Nov. 21 and Charles, 90, died one day later.

Charles Kramer started with Burbank Unified in the mid-1950s as a social studies teacher at Jordan Junior High School, according to the district. There, he co-taught classes of 60 students with current school board President Ted Bunch.

Working in the same room, one would teach to about 10 students, while the other taught the remaining students, Bunch said.

“I loved the guy a lot,” Bunch said. “He was just like a father to me.”

Charles Kramer left Burbank Unified in 1970, and went on to teach at a school in the west Valley before retiring in 1982. He and his wife eventually relocated to Washington to be closer to family, Bunch said.

The former teaching partners remained close, exchanging letters and visiting each other as recently as this past summer, Bunch said.

“Charlie was an extremely nice person,” Bunch said. “He was an excellent teacher.”

The Kramers, who were married for more than 50 years, were preceded in death by a daughter. They are survived by a son and several grandchildren.

-- Jason Wells and Megan O’Neil, Times Community News

Twitter: @JasonBretWells; @megankoneil