William Banister…October 8, 1927 – June 15, 2019

Graveside Services for Bill Banister will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Friday, June 21, 2019 at the Bent/Las Animas Cemetery Elder Chapel in Las Animas, Colorado with Pastor Diane Hutson officiating. Visitation will be held from 1:00 p.m. until 5:00 p.m. at Horber Funeral Chapel on Thursday, June 20, 2019.

William Clark Banister, known to most as Bill, was born on October 8, 1927 in Wayne, Nebraska to Clark and Laura (Taylor) Banister. He passed away on June 15, 2019 at his home in Las Animas, Colorado at the age of 91.

Bill grew up in Wayne, Nebraska. He began flying at the age of 17 and then was drafted and chose the United States Air Force due to his love of flying.  He was united in marriage to Jean Micha on November 3, 1952 and to this union had four children. After being honorably discharged he used the GI Bill to further his aviation training to become a Charter Pilot. He and his family then moved to Las Animas in 1956 to work as a crop duster for Bill Marliman for eight year until purchasing the business and changing its name to Banister Aerial Spraying.  He later sold the business in the 1990’s but continued to fly up until the time of his passing.  Bill was a member of the Presbyterian Church and the CAAA.

Bill is survived by his children, Douglas Clark (Sandy) Banister of Las Animas, Colorado, William James Banister of Albuquerque, New Mexico, Laura Denise (Mike) Veltri of Kismet, Kansas, and Randall (Maritez) Banister of Las Animas, Colorado; siblings, Don Banister of Meridian, Idaho, Marge Anderson of Lamesa, Texas, Shirley (Dan) Torres of Albuquerque, New Mexico, and Janet Crosier of Lincoln, Nebraska; 7 grandchildren; 14 great grandchildren; and one great great grandchild; many other relatives and a host of friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Jean Banister; grandson, Buck Banister; infant brother, Charles Banister; and siblings, John Banister, Jean Warren, and Hayes Banister.

Memorial contributions may be made to the VFW Auxiliary Post 2411 in care of Horber Funeral Chapel, P.O. Box 431, Las Animas, CO, 81054.

For more information or to leave online condolences, please visit www.horberfuneralchapel.com.