BANKS, Thomas Norman

July 31, 2012 5:50 AM

BANKS, Thomas Norman

Died July 16, 2012, age 98. He was born May 19, 1914 in Ontario, California and raised in a family of eight children. He graduated from Chaffey Union High School and Chaffey Junior College in Ontario.

On June 2, 1942 he married Denise Bourdet. He entered service in the U.S.Navy in August, 1942, serving mainly in Hawaii, and was honorably discharged in October, 1945.

He joined Southern Counties Gas Company in San Bernardino County in 1935 beginning as a ditch digger and meter reader. After World War II, he rejoined the company working in various positions in Los Angeles County. In 1957, je was promoted to manager of the Santa Barbara Division. When Southern Counties merged with Southern California Gas Company, he was tri-counties division manager until he retired in 1977.

He was active in community service in the Santa Barbara area. He served on the board of the United Way and was one year chairman of the annual fund drive. He also served on the board of the Chamber of Commerce and Downtown Rotary. Additionally, he was a member of the University Club and Channel City Club.

Hi wife, Denise Banks, died in 2010 and he is survived by sons Stephen, Frederic and Anthony, five grandchildren and one great-grandchild.

After the Requiem Mass at St. Raphael's Church, Santa Barbara, he was buried beside Denise Banks in the family plot at Calvary Cemetery, Los Angeles.

Published in the Santa Barbara News-Press, August 1, 2012.

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