September 8, 2009  Middletown Journal, Middletown, Ohio

Verna BANKS, age 86, formerly of 2102 Howard Avenue, Middletown, died Monday, September 7, 2009 at 1809 North Marshall Road. She was born July 16, 1923 in Wolfe County, Kentucky, the daughter of Walter Lockard and Flossy (Morris) Lockard. Mrs. Banks was a 40-year member of the Christian Fellowship Freewill Baptist Church. Verna, (known as Mamaw) was a homemaker and stay home mother who started working after her youngest child started first grade. She retired from Middletown City Schools System after 20 years of service. She loved being around her family, cooking, telling stories and traveling. We believe that she is in heaven and that we will see her again someday. She is survived by one daughter, Teresa Ramsey of Middletown; one son, Stanley (wife, Sharon) Banks of Middletown; five grandchildren, Doug Banks, Orbain "Opie" Banks, Donald "Tooter" (wife, Sarah) Banks, Matthew Black, Zack Ramsey; seven great grandchildren, Dakota and Dalton Banks, Christopher "Bert" Banks, Adrianna Banks, Abby Banks; and a daughter-in-law, Jeannie (wife of Dewey Banks) Banks of Florida. She was preceded in death by her husband, Orbain Banks; two sons, Don Banks and Dewey Lee Banks; her parents; and a brother, George Lockard. The family extends a special thank you to all her caregivers including all the special caring people at Hawthorn Glen, Garden Manor, Hospice of Dayton, and in-home caregivers Opal, "Sister" McKnight, Lena Gingerich, Kasey, and Haley Hill. Funeral services will be 11:00 AM Saturday at the Breitenbach-McCoy-Leffler Funeral Home with the Reverend Bobby Reed officiating. Visitation will be from 5:00 to 7:00 PM on Friday at the funeral home. Entombment will be at the Woodside Cemetery Mausoleum. Memorial contributions may be made to Hospice of Dayton, 324 Wilmington Avenue, Dayton, Ohio 45420.