(January 27, 1921 - September 22, 2014)

JOHN W. “J.W.” BANKS, 93, a resident of Irving since 1963, went home to be with the Lord, Monday, September 22, 2014, at his home. Born January 27, 1921 in Everman, Texas, he was the son of the late Ralph Andrew Banks and Margie Lee Jones Banks. He attended North Texas Agricultural College in Arlington (Now the University of Texas at Arlington) majoring in engineering. He volunteered and served in the United States Coast Guard during World War II. He married Dorothy Marie Smith December 27, 1941. He was a devoted husband, loving father and grandfather and an entrepreneur who dealt in real estate and ranching. He was a man filled with determination who lived with the motto, Where there’s a will, there’s a way! Preceded in death by his wife Dorothy November 14, 2013, he is survived by daughters Charlotte Stivers of Cedar Hill and Connie M. Banks of Grand Prairie; a son, Ronald W. Banks and wife Livia of Ennis; four grandchildren, Cathy Tharp and husband James of Rowlett, Dr. Jenny Hyde and husband Josh of Bryan, Brandon Tucker and wife Traci of New Braunfels, and Brett Tucker and wife Brandy of Crandall; nine great grandchildren, Davis Tharp, Collin Tharp, Miranda Tharp, Anna Hyde, Davin Banks Hyde, Alex Tucker, Devon Tucker, Jenna Tucker, and Katie Tucker; three sisters, Mary Stevens of Arlington, Juanita Armstrong of Irving, and Margie Belle Lowry and husband George of Mansfield; one brother, Ralph Banks, Jr. and wife Belle of Denton; and several nieces and nephews. The family will receive friends 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. Thursday at Donnelly’s Colonial Funeral Home, 606 West Airport Freeway in Irving. The funeral will be 1:00 p.m. Friday at the Chapel of First Baptist Church, 403 South Main Street in Irving. Burial will be at 3:30 p.m. Friday at Plainview Cemetery 12205 Highway 1173, Krum, Texas.