William Patton Banner

William P. Banner was born in Bluefield W. VA on the 18th of March 1924. He was 96 years old. He had one brother Roy and one sister Marjorie. His father was a superintendant of schools. They eventually settled in Roanoke VA. Roy sr. unfortunately contracted tuberculosis and ended up having to live in a sanatorium for several years. He was deemed unfit to work and decided to utilize a disability policy that he had bought several years earlier. He was an avid fisherman and spent the remainder of his life fishing in the many lakes surrounding the Roanoke valley.

My father William, entered the Army in 1944 and after basic training he attended school to become a radio man. Not long afterward, he was sent to Okinawa, Japan. He stayed there until the war ended. Afterwards, he was sent to Korea for several years. He was eventually discharged and returned to Roanoke. He attended school at Roanoke College in Salem VA. He received a BA in economics. He married Sarah Jane Renalds and had two children, Raymond and Barbara.

The family moved to Tampa FL in the early 60’s. Mr. Banner got a job with General Telephone Co. which is now known as Verizon. He spent 30 years there until he retired. He traveled a lot in retirement mostly in the summers. He spent many summers in Boulder CO, Canada, and Duluth, MN

He is survived by his son and daughter and a niece Linda Tully who resides in Silver Springs, MD. He had a great life.