Oren Samuel Banks

April 2, 1928 - December 10, 2013

Age 85, formerly of Wilmington, IL and Gardner, IL, passed away peacefully, Tuesday, December 10, 2013 at the home of his son and daughter-in-law in Winnsboro, TX. Born April 2, 1928 in Pittsburg, IL to the late Artie E. and Ethel A. (Crossen) Banks. He served during World War II with the United States Army and then in the Korean War with the United States Air Force. He formerly owned “Opportunity Homes”, a construction company that built many homes in the Ropp and Lakewood Shores Subdivisions, both located in Wilmington. Past President of the Wilmington Rotary Club and previous member of the Joliet Board of Realtors. In his retirement, Oren became a minister and served at the United Methodist Church in Ritchie, IL for eight years and continued to serve many Methodist churches throughout the local area. Surviving are two sons, Marion “Lee” (Tina) Banks of Winnsboro, TX and Lawrence Dale (Juanita) Banks of Talco, TX; two daughters, Anne (John) Mixen of Naperville, IL and Jane (Steve Lindquist) Woodcock of Gardner, IL; thirteen grandchildren; thirteen great-grandchildren; one brother, Robert G. Banks; and numerous nieces and nephews. Preceding him in death were his first wife, Frances M. (Hintze) Banks and his second wife, Marjorie L. (Woodcock) Banks; one grand-daughter, Michelle Lee Banks; two brothers, Patrick L. Crossen and Artie Banks, Jr.; and one sister, Eleanor Simmons. Funeral services will be at the R.W. Patterson Funeral Homes, Ltd. & Crematory, Braidwood Chapel, Tuesday, December 17, 2013 at 7:00 p.m. with visitation two hours preceding services. Pastor Bob Fear will officiate. Cremation rites will be accorded following services. Inurnment with full military honors will be at the Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery in Elwood, IL on Wednesday, December 18, at 11:00 a.m. proceeding from the R.W. Patterson Funeral Home in Braidwood at 10:30 a.m. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations in his name may be directed to the United Methodist Churches in Ritchie and in Braceville for missions.