Banks

Thomas Gregory Banks Sr. of Mercer, formerly of New Wilmington and North Washington, Butler County, passed away unexpectedly at 11:40 a.m. Saturday in the hospital of the Sharon Regional Health System after a brief illness. He was 61.

He was born June 5, 1950, in Butler, the son of Thomas G. and Sara G. Elder Banks, who are deceased.

He graduated from Moniteau High School in West Sunbury and attended the University of Pittsburgh.

Tom worked for more than 15 years for the former Hovis Trucking Co. in Grove City. Prior to his employment with Hovis, he worked for 15 years at Pullman Standard in Butler where he was a welder building cars for the rail road industry.

He belonged to the Victory Christian Center, New Wilmington Campus.

Tom's greatest joy was riding the open road with his wife on his Gold Wing trike. He was a member of the Gold Wing Road Riders Association, Chapter D, in Cranberry Township.

His wife, the former Marilyn D. Gardner, who he married on March 18, 1972, survives at home.

He leaves his two daughters, Lori Marsh and her husband, Greg, of Ferndale, Mich., and Patricia Palmer of Mercer; two sons, Thomas G. Banks Jr. and his wife, Angela, of Enon Valley and Nathaniel Banks and his wife, Heather, of Slippery Rock; 13 grandchildren; three great-grandchildren, and a brother, Jeffrey Banks and his wife, Debbie, of Karns City.

<B>BANKS</B> — There will be no calling hours for Thomas Gregory Banks Sr., who died Saturday, Dec. 17, 2011. A memorial service will be held at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday at the Victory Christian Center, New Wilmington Campus, with the Rev. Robert Cypher, pastor, officiating.In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Victory Christian Center, New Wilmington Campus, 269 Cowden Road, New Wilmington, PA 16142.The <B>McGonigle Funeral Home and Crematory, </B>Sharon, is handling arrangements.To view his obituary or to post a tribute to his family, visit the website www.McGonigleFuneralHome andCrematory.com.