Boyce H. “Chic” Bankson, 90, of Greenville, a resident of Versailles Health Care Center, went to be with the Lord on Thursday, August 28, 2014 at 2:05 p.m. Chic was born on May 18, 1924, the son of Roy and Blanche Bankson. He was preceded in death by his parents, and brother, Doyle G. Bankson, and his sister, Helen E. Gibson.
Chic is survived by his wife, Mary E. (Lephart) Bankson, to whom he was a beloved husband for 68 years; and father to daughters, Holly (Ted) Finnarn of Greenville, Ohio; Lori (Matt) DeBacker of Lowell, Michigan; Mary Beth (Eric) Erisman of Greenville, Ohio; grandchildren, Shawn (Dave) Wilson of Dayton, Ohio; Ted Finnarn, Jr. (Marce) of Phoenix, Arizona; Thom Finnarn of Brooklyn, New York; Alex Finnarn of Cincinnati, Ohio and Alison Finnarn of Columbus, Ohio; Riley DeBacker of Columbus, Ohio and Rowby DeBacker of Lowell, Michigan; Dustin Erisman of Greenville, Ohio and Marykate (Tony) Bonfiglio of Greenville, Ohio. He had four great-grandchildren: Zoe Wilson, David Wilson, Laila Erisman and Jasmine Finnarn. He is also survived by his sister, Juanita Roberson of Winchester, Indiana; Wayne Bankson of Edwards, Missouri; Eldon Bankson of Troy, Ohio; Jean B. Cipriano of Boynton Beach, Florida; Dean Bankson of Greenville, Ohio; and Phyllis Thomas of Greenville, Ohio.
Chic was a veteran of WWII serving in active combat and later performed all over the European Theatre as a member of the 5th Infantry Chorus. Upon his return, Chic was a manager of A & P in Greenville and Dayton, Ohio; a section manager of the Fuller Brush Company; owner of Chic’s Chuck Wagon Catering; and owner/broker/appraiser of Arrowhead Realty. He was a member of the First Congregational Christian Church and the Darke County Camp of the Gideons International. He was also a member of the American Legion, the VFW, the Darke County Farmers Union; and he was also an avid fisherman and Cincinnati Reds baseball fan.
A memorial service will be held at Oliver Floyd Funeral Home on Wednesday, September 3, 2014 at 2:00 p.m., with the Rev. Joe Soley officiating. The Greenville Honor Guard will conduct a military ceremony at the beginning of the service. The family will receive friends from noon to 2 p.m., before the service. Burial will be at the Old Teegardan Cemetery on Rt. 49.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Darke County Camp of the Gideons International and the First Christian Congregational Church, Greenville.
Memorials may be left for the family at www.oliverfloyd.com
