Mount Ayr Record-News
Mount Ayr, Ringgold County, Iowa
Thursday, August 10, 2011

LBanks WILSON, 88 years old, born January 14, 1923 south of Tingley, Iowa passed away peacefully surrounded by family at Ringgold County Hospital in Mount Ayr, Iowa on August 3, 2011.

He was the only son of Leo and Edna (ROOD) WILSON. Upon the death of his mother at the age of two, he moved with his father to live with his paternal grandparents in the Clearfield, Iowa area. He attended country schools and graduated from Clearfield high school with the class of 1940.

LBanks attended Iowa State College a year and then began his mortuary apprenticeship until called into service for World War II in 1943. His basic training was at the U.S. Naval Training Station at Farragut, Idaho. He was selected to attend sonar sound school in San Diego, California. Upon completion he was shipped to Adak, Alaska to board the U.S.S. YMS, a minesweeper. He became a second class petty officer as a sonar man, which was to detect underwater submarines or mines. During this time when on leave, LBanks married Luella WALL on November 22, 1944.

Upon discharge from the Navy in November 1945, they began married life together. After a short time in Perry, Iowa to complete his mortuary apprenticeship, they moved to Saint Louis, Missouri where LBanks attended Mortuary College. After graduation, he completed another year of apprenticeship at Leon, Iowa. This is where they started their family. Colleen Lucile was born in 1950. After four years in Leon, they decided to return to the family farm near Clearfield. Debra Kay was born in 1954. After 20 years of farming he and Luella moved to Mount Ayr in 1971 and purchased the Rhoades Funeral Home, changing the name to Rhoades-Wilson Funeral Home. He had been employed there as a funeral director since 1960.

LBanks retired in 1992 and sold the funeral home to Jay WATSON. He loved his profession as a funeral director and helping people in their time of need. The funeral home was very special in his heart.

In 2008 at the State Funeral Directors Convention he was presented with his 60-year pin as a licensed funeral director for 60 years. This was a very proud moment for LBanks and his family and friends.

LBanks was charter member member and past president of the Clearfield Lions Club, Worshipful Master of the Masonic Lodge and past Worthy Patron of Eastern Star in Clearfield. He was an honorary memberof the Iowa Funeral Directors Association, member of the National Funeral Directors Association, American Legion Ringgold Post#172, Faith Lodge A.F. & A.M., Eastern Star, Lions Club and life-long member of the United Methodist Church. He belonged to these organizations for over 50 years.

Married 66 years, LBanks and Luella enjoyed traveling to visit their children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Family vacations and gatherings were a very special time for them. They looked forward to wintering in Mesa, Arizona -- having done that for over 20 years -- where they had many friends.

LBanks enjoyed golf, shuffle board and coffee with his friends.

In October 2009 LBanks took the Central Iowa Honor Flight trip with fellow veterans and friends to Washington, D.C.

LBanks is survived by wife Luella Marian WILSON of Mount Ayr,Iowa; daughters Colleen (Paul) KENDLE of Green Bay, Wisconsin and Debra (Lyle) BROWN of Council Bluffs, Iowa; grandchildren Carrie (Corby) MILLER of Waunakee, Wisconsin, Adam (Katie) KENDLE of LaCrosse, Wisconsin, Nichole (Brock) BERAN and David BROWN of Omaha, Nebraska; great-grandsons Mason and Maxwell MILLER and Harper KENDLE.

He is preceded in death by his parents.

Memorials are to the United Methodist Church and HCI Care Services in Mount Ayr. Arrangements were entrusted to Watson-Armstrong Funeral Home in Mount Ayr.Services were conducted at the United Methodist Church in Mount Ayr Saturday, August 6, 2011, with Rev. Skip RUSHING officiating. Musicians included Debbie CANNON and Dr. Collus LAWHEAD.

Casket bearers were Paul KENDLE, Lyle BROWN, Adam KENDLE, David BROWN, Corby MILLER and Brock BERAN. Honorary pallbearers included Leroy BLESSMAN, Jerry MAHARRY, Don STANZEL, Jerry MARLER, Bob ERICKSON, David HAMILTON, Wayne WILSON, John WILSON and Robert (Hap) RICHARDS.

Military rites were conducted by American Legion Ringgold Post #172 and the Iowa Honor Guard Unit.

LBanks was laid at rest in the Clearfield Cemetery in Clearfield.

Transcription by Sharon R. Becker, August of 2011

A - B OBITUARIES INDEX         C OBITUARIES INDEX              D OBITUARIES INDEX
E - F - G OBITUARIES INDEX    H - I - J OBITUARIES INDEX      K - L OBITUARIES INDEX
M OBITUARIES INDEX              N - O - P OBITUARIES INDEX    Q - R OBITUARIES INDEX
S - T OBITUARIES INDEX          U - V - W OBITUARIES INDEX   X - Y - Z OBITUARIES INDEX