William (Bill) Banks

William (Bill) Banks passed away on Saturday, February 13, 2016. He was 81 years old. His father, Edward Allen Banks and mother Lois Lorene Haywood are both deceased. He is survived by the love of his life, his wife, Nancy Lou Arnold Banks. They were married 56 years. They have two sons, Michael Anthony Banks and William Christopher Banks. Two daughters, Kathleen Michelle Banks, and Karen Elizabeth Banks. Three granddaughters, Kimberly Amanda Banks, Shaina Elizabeth Scoggins, and Emily Christine Banks, and one great grandson, Hunter Wayne Scoggins.

Bill belonged to Sacred Heart Catholic Church and attended Catholic High School in Texarkana where he played football and baseball He often said the devoted Nuns of the Ursuline Order who taught the four R's are what kept him from being a dropout and gave him a good education.

He spend a brief time in the U.S. Marine Corps Reserves. He then enlisted in the Navy for four years. While in the Navy he became a member of the elite Caterpillar Club. This club is for people who have used a parachute to save their life. Caterpillar signifies the silk worm, silk being what the first parachutes were made from. He ejected from the same model aircraft that is in Spring Lake Park.

He served a short time in the Air Force Reserve after discharge from the Navy. He received an Honorable Discharge from all three branches of the services.

He retired from the Department of Justice, Federal Bureau of Prisons after almost 25 years of service in five Federal Prisons, a Regional Office and in the Headquarters Office in Washington, D.C.

Bill then worked in the Security Department of Day & Zimmerman, Inc. at Lone Star Army Ammunition Plant. This was his final job.

Rosary will be 1:30 p.m., Friday, February 19, 2016 at Sacred Heart Catholic Church with Memorial Mass of Christian Burial to follow at 2 p.m., at Sacred Heart Catholic Church under the direction of East Funeral Home - Downtown.

Online tributes may be made at www.eastfuneralhomes.com.