William Elzie Banks

After graduating high school, William was drafted into Vietnam, where he received a Purple Heart and Silver Star medal. He was a member of the VFW in Chandler, Oklahoma. William then became a truck driver for Fleming Foods for 25 years. At Fleming Foods, he received a lot of safe driving awards. He also worked at Meeker Schools as a Transportation Director and worked at Head Start. He loved working on and collecting old cars. You could bring anything to William and he could make it run again. William was always the first to come running if anyone had a problem.

William met and married his high school sweetheart, Glenda Wiley, on June 16, 1967 in Wellston, Oklahoma. William was extremely proud of becoming a father and grandpa. He always talked about his son being in football and weight lifting. He always went to horse shows with his family and spent time teaching his grandchildren how to build older cars.

William is preceded in death by his father Homer Simon Banks; his mother Elda Kathleen (Horton) Banks; and sisters Lois Wilson, Beatrice Swafor, and Betty Real. He is survived by his wife Glenda (Wiley) Banks; daughter Robin Ruyle and husband John and their children Randall Watlington, Bryce Watlington, Marshall Ruyle, and Hayden Ruyle; son William Banks and wife Heather and their children Nathan Yoder and Katelyn Miller; and half-brother Holly Bowen and wife Coleta.

Funeral Services will be held Monday, August 16, 2021, at 2:00 PM at Resthaven Funeral Home. Burial will follow at Rossville Cemetery in Meeker.