Ray Powers Bankston

A native and resident of Baton Rouge, he passed away Friday, June 15, 2007, at Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center. He was 74. He retired from Ethyl Corp. after 21 years of service. Visitation at Rabenhorst Funeral Home, 825 Government St., on Sunday, June 17, from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m., and on Monday from 9 a.m. until religious service at 11 a.m. in the funeral home chapel, conducted by the Rev. Jay Hogewood and Dr. George Haile. Interment will follow in the Eastern Star Cemetery in Wilson. He is survived by his wife of 49"° years, Lillian Iverson Bankston; children, Ray P. "Chip" Bankston III and his wife, Anita Rodrigue Bankston, Dr. Susan M. Bankston and Blance K. Bankston; and seven grandchildren, Sarah Pratt, Blance Matthew Bankston, Kathrine Lynn Bankston, Charles Marshall Bankston, Eryn Elizabeth Bankston, Ryan Christopher Bankston and Lauren Grace Bankston. He was preceded in death by his parents, Ray P. Bankston Sr. and Lillian Jones Bankston; sister, Faye Lee Thornton; and numerous aunts and uncles. Serving as pallbearers will be Jerry Iverson, David Iverson, Daniel Iverson, Steve Devine, Matthew Bankston and Robert Pendarvis. Mr. Bankston was a member of University Baptist Church. He was also a 32nd Degree Mason and a former member of St. James Lodge. He was a member of the Istrouma High School graduating class of 1951. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the American Heart Association, 4962 Florida Blvd., Suite 402, Baton Rouge, LA 70806.