BANKS SUMMER-FALL 2012 March 23, 1931 June 12, 2012 Charles W. Banks Following a lengthy and courageous battle with breast cancer and chronic pulmonary disease, Charles Banks was surrendered into the hands of God on June 12, 2012. Charles was born March 23, 1931, in Spartanburg, SC. Son of the late John A. and Susie Williams Banks, he attended schools in Spartanburg and graduated from the University of South Carolina at Columbia. His business career began with The Kendall Company in Charlotte and the last twenty years were devoted to commercial real estate where he specialized in hotel/motel sales. A veteran of the Korean War, he served aboard the destroyer USS McGowan as part of Task Force 77 in and around the Korean Peninsula in 1952 and 1953. In recent years Charles devoted time to writing and was successful in having a manuscript selected for publication. Steel Warrior, a Korean War-era novel was published in April 2005. A mystery, Chase The Darkness, his second novel, was published in February 2007. An Emeritus Life Associate, he was past president of the Charlotte Chapter, Institute of Management Accountants; past president of the Charlotte Alumni Association, Delta Sigma Pi; and Tin Can Sailor's Association. He also served ten years as president of the Banks Family Association, where he initiated and published a quarterly newsletter to his extended family of cousins that often included vignettes he had written of early family members. Charles is survived by Dee Banks, his beloved wife of 57 years; brother John Banks and wife Eleanor, Tampa, FL; brother George Banks and wife Norma, Spartanburg, SC; son Barry Banks and wife Debra, Wellford, SC; son Michael Banks and wife Rita, Monroe, NC; daughter Susan Banks Banbury and husband Jim, Charlotte; daughter Lisa Banks Kimball and husband Brett, Charlotte; and beloved grand children - Michael, Matthew, Gina and Kelley - who showered him with affection and honored him with the name "Poppy."
Thomas Marion Banks Family Reunion (details inside) October 13 &14
Our love and deepest sympathy goes out to our precious cousins— the families of brothers, Charles and John Banks. … As we say good-bye to two of our own, may it always comfort us to know ….. the family tree will always grow. (from Vince, The Family Tree, Spin Art)
March 1, 1927 July 7, 2012 John Allen Banks, Jr. After subsequent complications from an earlier fall, John Banks passed away July 7, 2012. John was born March 1, 1927 in Spartanburg, SC. Son of the late John A. and Susie Williams Banks, he attended and graduated from Presbyterian College in Clinton, SC. A veteran of both WWII and the Korean War, John served aboard Navy destroyer ship, USS Steinaker, John and Eleanor lived in Baltimore, Maryland for much of their early married life, where John worked for Shell Oil Company. The family moved to Greenwood, South Carolina after his retirement. Golf was John’s favorite pastime, and three days out of the week you could find him on the golf course pulling his own cart and walking the 18 hole course. He delighted in this accomplishment of ’shooting his age’ when he was in his early 70’s.. John is survived by Eleanor Stewart Banks, his wife of 57 years, Tampa, Fl; brother George and wife Norma, Spartanburg, SC; son John Allen, III and wife Margie, Tampa, Fl; daughter Liz Englander and husband Owen, Wesley Chapel, Fl; and three grandchildren, John Allen Banks, IV, Aaron Douglas Banks, and Nancy Caroline Englander. A small family memorial service was held at the John Knox Village Chapel. (Tampa) John and Charles Banks at a Banks Family Reunion