Funeral services for Gene Bannister, age 88, of Brownwood, will be held at 2:00 PM, Saturday, May 20, 2023, at the Austin Avenue Church of Christ. Burial will follow in Eastlawn Memorial Park. The family will receive friends from 1:00 until 2:00 prior to the service.
Gene passed from this life on Tuesday, May 16, 2023, at Hendrick Hospice in Abilene.
Arthur Eugene Bannister was born on September 16, 1934, in Brownwood to Earl Roy “Spec” and Bessie Lee (Hardin) Bannister. Gene attended Brownwood schools and graduated from Brownwood High School in 1953. He married Barbara Sue Gibson on November 6, 1954, in Abilene. They enjoyed 65 years of marriage before Barbara’s death in 2020. Gene was drafted into the US Army in 1957, and served three years on active duty in Germany and Lebanon. He returned to Brownwood and began a 46-year career in the service department at Holley Chevrolet, retiring in 2005. Gene and Barbara were members of the 4th & Stewart Church of Christ where he served as an elder for 45 years.
Gene was a private pilot and loved airplanes of all types. There were many family outings to fly-ins and airshows. He also enjoyed his guns and John Deere tractors. Most important to Gene was spending time with his family. He adored his two sons, his grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Gene is survived by a son Mark Bannister and wife Tammy of Brownwood; daughter-in-law, Patti Bannister of Brownwood, four grandchildren, Courtney Feist and husband Brandon, their children, Brylen and Kynzlee of Tolar; Chance Bannister and Jackie Salazar and their daughter Luna of Brownwood, Kynadee Bannister of Stephenville, and Micah Lampson and husband Chris and their daughter Addison of Elizabethtown, Pennsylvania; a sister, Carolyn Pennington and husband Ronnie of San Angelo and his beloved four legged companion DD.
Gene was preceded in death by his mother, Bessie Bannister, wife, Barbara Bannister, and son Mike Bannister.
The family requests memorials be made to the Parkinsons Foundation in Barbara’s name, The Manna Project c/o Natalia church of Christ, PO Box 209, Natalia, TX 78059; or Mission Printing, 2707 Medlin RD, Arlington TX 76015.
Condolences, memories, and tributes can be offered to the Bannister family online at heartlandfuneralhome.com.
