William Eugene Banks, age 73, died Thursday, March 12, 2009 at the home of his daughter, Jane Long, in North East, PA. William had been receiving treatments for cancer at Crawford County Care Center in Saegertown for the past two months and had lived with his daughter for just two days. Born in Plumville, PA, he was a son of the late William Banks and Willine May Whitacre Banks. Since 1969 he resided in Erie, PA before living the past two years with his son, David Banks, in Venango Township, Crawford County. On December 23, 1955 he married the former Dorothy Cerankowski and she preceded him in death on June 19, 1996.
A welder by trade, William was employed by Erie Forge and Steel (formerly known as National Forge) in Erie for 23 years retiring in 1997. He was a member of Veterans of Foreign Wars #169 of Venango and was a former member of the Polish Falcons #123 in Erie. William spent considerable time hunting and fishing often taking the younger members of his family with him. He shared his knowledge of the sports with them and treasured spending time with each of his grandchildren in general. William had also been an avid bowler.
Surviving William are five children – William Banks, Jr.; Leon Banks of Greenfield, NY; Robert Banks and his wife, Karen of Ashtabula, OH; Jane Long and her husband, Brian of North East, PA; and David Banks of Venango, PA; eight grandchildren – Mandy, Rebecca, Andrew, Tabitha, Samantha, Danielle, Stephanie, and James; three sisters – Beverly Searles of Cohocton, NY; Florence Sears and her husband, Bill of Indiana, PA; Willine Wolfe and her husband, Jim of Clymer, PA; two brothers – Paul Wayne Banks and his wife, Amerina of Zelienople and Kenneth Banks and his wife, Pat of Plumville, PA. Many nieces and nephews also survive.
Friends may call at the Van Matre Family Funeral Home in Cambridge Springs on Saturday from 7-9 and on Sunday from 2-4 p.m. Funeral services will be held Sunday afternoon at the Funeral Home at 4:00 p.m. Memorials may be given to Southern Care Hospice, 16039 Conneaut Lake Rd, Suite 108, Meadville, PA 16335 or Kanzius Cancer Research Foundation, 915 State Street, Erie, PA 16507.
I am so sorry for your loss. May “the God of all comfort” (2 Corinthians 1:3,4) comfort and soothe your heart. His promises, found in the Holy Scriptures, can offer much hope. It assures us at John 5:28,29 that our loved ones will be remembered and brought back to life in the resurrection. Please allow God’s Word to strengthen you and help you to endure this most difficult time.