Walter Theodore Banks

Walter Theodore Banks October 27, 1926 – January 6, 2014 Walter Theodore Banks, the son of Walter U. Banks and Edna H. Briscoe Banks, was born October 27, 1926 in Indianapolis, Indiana. He converted to Catholicism and became one of the founding members of St. Monica's Roman Catholic Church in 1956. He passed away in his home town at the age of 87. Walter was educated in the Indianapolis Public School system and graduated from Crispus Attucks High School in January 1945. He was fascinated by aeronautics and joined the United States Army Air Forces with the intention of becoming a pilot and fighting in World War II. After boot camp he was assigned to the 99th Pursuit Squadron, more popularly know as the Tuskegee Airmen. Following his service for our country, Walter attended Purdue University in Indianapolis. Later he trained as an electronic engineer technician and worked at Naval Avionics in Indianapolis before retiring 27 years later. He became a real estate broker, founded the Banks Realty Company, and maintained his license well into his 80s. Walter enjoyed multiple hobbies. He built and flew remote control model airplanes with his sons, family and friends but he never gave up on his dream to become a pilot. He got his private pilot's license in the 1960s and enjoyed flying his Cesena and J-4 private airplanes. He went fishing at every opportunity and taught his family to love camping and hunting rabbit, quail and pheasant. He introduced his daughters to science fiction books and movies, and he wrote several unpublished sci-fi short stories. He was always tinkering with electronics; he began by repairing television and then evolved to building personal computers. As recently as Christmas, he resolved a problem he was having with his computer printer. He was an excellent cook and provided loving care for many of his beloved ones. Walter shared his enthusiasm and calming demeanor with everyone who came into his life. In 1949, Walter married Rosemarie Wilson and through this union they had four children. Following the death of Rosemarie he married Evonne Maxey Nance. Walter is survived by his wife Evonne Maxey Nance, his children: Michelle Banks, Michael Banks (Bessie), Monica Hines (Clifton "Ray"), Mark (Cynthia); stepchildren Arica Nance, Nicole Nance, Andrea "Renee" Hayes and Damon Nance; Grandchildren: Chantel Cruthird, Kelli Tuttle, Jacquelynn Hines, Elliott Banks, Tiffani Banks, Damon Nance Jr., LaTessio Walker, Curtis McCauley, Demetrious Nance, Calvin McCauley and Maxine Walker; Great Grand Children: Tyler Dory, Tiahna Dory and Aerus Cruthird; lifelong friend Barbra Bluiett, and many other family and friends. Sincerely, -Your friends at Flanner and Buchanan