‘Bob’ Lyans, grandson of original La Cañada settlers, dies at 92

Longtime La Cañada resident John Robert (“Bob”) Lyans passed away May 21 at the age of 92.

Born Nov. 14, 1922 in Glendale, he graduated from Hoover High School, then joined the U.S. Navy after the outbreak of World War II. Serving as a fighter pilot in both the Atlantic and Asiatic-Pacific theaters, he told family members later that aviators from Glendale talked about how they couldn’t wait to get home to enjoy a Bob’s Big Boy hamburger.

After studying at University of Southern California and Brigham Young University, he worked for the Pasadena Unified School District, first as a teacher and then as a counselor.

His grandparents, Robert Guthrie and Sadie Jane Lyans, were original settlers of La Cañada and had a ranch that is bordered by the present-day streets of Orchard Lane, Palm Drive, Lyans Drive and Castle Road. Forty years ago, Bob and his wife Dorothy, whom he married in 1946, moved to a section of his grandfather’s ranch on Lyans Drive.

In addition to his wife, Bob leaves four children, John Lyans Jr., Richard Lyans, Janis Johnson and Lori Bretherton, along with their spouses. He also leaves six grandchildren and a great-granddaughter.

Services are planned for 11 a.m. on Saturday, May 30 at Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1830 Foothill Blvd.