Parcourez la nécrologie de William Richard Banks 1935 2024 résidant dans la province Nouveau-Brunswick pour le détail des funérailles
The passing of William (Bill/Billy)
Richard Banks occurred on Jan 04 2024 at the DECH after a long and
courageous battle with cancer and other serious health issues. In his
typical of him stoaic and determined manner, he had remarkably defied
the many tough odds against him for the past 5 years since his initial
prognosis. Our hearts are saddened by his loss, but rejoice
in the final victory that is now his.
Bill was born on November 19th, 1935,
the eldest son of Raymond and Mae (Clark) Banks. He grew up with his 8
siblings in the home built by his Dad in Barker’s Point. At
the back of the Watters Drive property, just behind their home and
gardens, was the Church established in 1951 that became the
cornerstone of the Banks’ way of life and it’s lasting legacy
throughout each of the generations to follow. Bill was a long
standing, devoted, active member of the Corbett Avenue Wesleyan
Church.
Bill worked in various capacities from
an early teen age on, and he joined the air force for a year at the
young age of 17, traveling by railway to Ontario for cadet training
purposes. He was employed for a time with the CNR and NBPower, but the
majority of his working career was as a Bridge Superintendent for DOT
from the early 1960’s until he retired from that position in 1993. In
his earlier days, Bill enjoyed fishing and hunting and spending time
at the family’s hunting camp in Noonan with his Dad, brothers and
uncles. He was strikingly handsome, athletic, played hockey
as a teen, took up curling as a winter sporting activity in his 60’s,
he possessed an unfading boyish charm and a thriving fun spirit.
Idleness and inactivity bored him . Bill loved living life to the
fullest and his sometimes silly risky antics resulted in bodily
injury, yet he never changed his ways or decided it was more prudent
to proceed with caution in life. He was quick with numbers and
calculations and had a sharp memory for facts and detail. He was not
hesitant to voice his strong opinions that most knew, arguable or not,
were better left as unchallenged. He held firm to his Christian
beliefs, believed in the power and evidence of prayer, unabashedly
sang hymns of loud praise in his recognizably off key way, and he was
a self-confident, self-taught, creative, jack of all trades, despite
his seemingly never quite refining those cost-efficient handyman
skills for practicable or safe purposes. He mellowed in temperament as
he aged, and he wore his good heart a little more gently and
generously on his sleeve, but his zest for living and his inherent
sense of youthfulness were demonstrably in contradiction of his age
and remained large and untamed. He looked forward to his
outings with his brother Doug who picked him up for morning coffee
dates, or chauffeured him around to various places and
appointments. He liked to travel, especially to sunny
destinations, incl wintering for a few weeks in Florida. He loved his
tea and sweets, his God, his family, his friends and golfing. It
depended on the time of year as to which took priority, but for 50+
years, he had an enduring love/hate passionate relationship with the
game of golf. Well into his 80’s he spent many early
mornings teeing off at Mactaquac with his golfing buddies Donnie
Dinsmore, Frank Beatty and Ed Dunham.
Bill is survived by his loving wife
Gayle (Whitney-Moore) and his children Carol Banks, Lori (Tom)
Hazlett, Joel (Lisa) Banks, Jackie (Ryan) Boyer, his grandchildren
Tara, Chris, Sayard, Kyle (Kassandra), Amanda (Eric), Hunter, Taylor,
Henry, Holden and George, great-grandchildren Nikki, Logan, Hank,
Doug, Rex, Kota and Karter, great-great grandson Raiden, brother Doug
Banks (Nora), sisters Betty White, Barb (Dave) Wilson, brother-in-law
Pat Peterson, sisters-in-law Maryella Banks, Judy (Larry) Banks and
Barb (Danny) Banks, step-children Tayne (Jill) and Maya Moore,
step-grandchildren Luke and Abi, many nieces and nephews he thought
fondly of and cared about. Bill was predeceased by his beloved wife of
37 years Judy Ellen (Spear), his brothers Ken, Larry and Danny,
sisters Joan and Carol Marie and brother-in-law Jim
White.
Even in the hardest and longest days of
his two month palliative care hospital stay, he never chose to
question God’s will, nor did he bemoan his suffering. He accepted it
with a grace that belied the circumstances. His last earthly breath
was gently exhaled at the end of a prayer spoken by the attending
Pastor. It was in that quiet and peaceful moment that he gave God the
glory for having never failed to be his comfort, his assurance and his
trusted guide to his eternal home. Bill is experiencing his best life
now, as he was promised.
There will be a celebration of Bill’s
life held at Corbett Avenue Wesleyan Church on Wednesday January 10th,
2024. Visitation will be from 1-2 pm, with the memorial service to
follow at 2 pm. For those who wish, donations in remembrance
of Bill may be made to the Canadian Cancer Society, the
Corbett Avenue Wesleyan Church, or a charity of your
choice.
Arrangements have been entrusted to
Bishop’s Funeral Home.
1935 2024
Décès pour la Ville Fredericton, Province Nouveau-Brunswick
avis deces William Richard Banks 1935 2024
nécrologie William Richard Banks 1935 2024
Nous offrons nos plus sincères condoléances à la famille et aux amis de William Richard Banks 1935 2024 et espérons que leur mémoire pourra être une source de réconfort pendant cette période difficile. Vos pensées et vos mots aimables sont grandement appréciés.