Obituary of Richard Banker

Richard Banker, 82, of Thorndike, passed away, February 15, 2013, with his family beside him. He is survived by his loving wife of 53 years, Patricia (Hustus) Banker, 2 sons, Chris and wife, Cathy, of Thorndike, and Jerry of Florida, 5 grandchildren and 17 great grandchildren. Dick was born September 19, 1930, in Cambridge MA, the son of Charles and Annie (Parsons) Banker. He was a grange member for 66 years. The last 20 years he was an active member of the Harvest Moon Grange #57 in Thorndike where he has held the offices of master, overseer, lecturer and on the executive committee; Waldo Pomona #12 as master and steward; and deputy of the Maine State Grange for 8 years. He was also a member of the Thorndike Congregational Church. He was selectman for the town of Thorndike for three years. As a young man, he entered the U.S. Navy and was transferred into the Marine Corp. He is a veteran of the Korean War where he was in intelligence while stationed in Palestine. Dick was a carpenter by trade and also worked as an electrician and oil burner/air conditioner technician. He is survived by one sister, Margaret Martin, of Connecticut, 5 sisters-in-law, Inez Williams, of Thorndike, Lois Austin, of Lyman, Sally Collin, of Florida, Jacquie Ludden, of Jackson, and Martha Banker, of California, several nieces and nephews, and a special nephew, Terry Williams, of Brewer. He was pre-deceased by his parents, 3 brothers, Charles Jr., Clarence (Lucky), and Norman, 3 sisters, Ellen Hardy and husband, Ed, Alice Lord and husband, Ralph, and Ruth Estes and husband, Elmer, his father and mother-in law, Lauriston and Harriet Hustus, 4 brothers-in-law, Lauriston Hustus Jr., Ernest Austin, Darwin Ludden, and Everett Williams, a special sister-in-law, Mary Banker, a special family friend, Norman Shibles, and his best friend, Mike Reynolds. Donations in Dick’s memory can be made to Thorndike Congregational Church, P.O. Box 51, Thorndike, ME 04986.