Joe Banda

Joe Banda, 79, was born to Julio and Aurora Banda on December 2, 1944, in Yorktown, Texas. When Joe was about four years old, he moved from Yorktown to El Campo, where he attended school until the 4th grade. When he no longer attended school, he worked odd jobs, from restaurants to upholstery shops to parts stores. In 1974, he started working for Frank Marek Trucking, where he was a lifelong employee as a truck driver. On July 31st, 1965, he married the love of his life, "Honey" Martina Banda Casarez, who he called multiple times a day to check in and let her know where he was. They went on to have three children, whom he is also survived by: Lorraine (Paul) Lopez, Mario (Cathy) Banda, and Joel Banda. He is also survived by his grandchildren, who he always introduced to anyone he knew. He was a proud grandpa to Veronica (Nick) Tovar, Paul Anthony Lopez, Nicholas Banda, and Abrianna Banda. The great-grandkids kept him on his toes; Nick Tovar III, Pete Landry Tovar, and Violet Tovar always looked forward to their weekend breakfast or lunch date with him and Sunday family dinner for the last few years. When Joe was not in his truck, he was at manna meal on Monday and Thursday, Bingo on Fridays, and Delta Downs whenever possible. After much debate with Frank, Mario, and my grandma, he finally broke down and listened to everyone. He would go from an 18-wheeler hauling to New Braunfels to a bobtail and start hauling here in town until December. He would finally retire at 80, sonly because it was the "cutoff" age for a CDL. There was never a road he didn't know or where it would lead; most of the stories he told us were about how he helped make this or that while driving a truck. On June 7th, 2024, Joe was called home to God our Savior in the early morning hours, doing what he loved to do. Trucking was his life, and if you knew Joe, then you know that he would not have wanted it any other way.
Joe is survived by his wife of 58 years, Martina Banda. His children, Lorraine (Paul) Lopez, Mario (Cathy) Banda, and Joel Banda, are all from El Campo. Sisters Viola Banda of El Campo, Maria Banda (Robert Whitley) of El Campo. His brothers Julio (Lilly) Banda of Humble, Rocky (Amelia) Banda of Pasadena, Johnny (Susie) Banda of Pasadena, and Robert (Rosie) Banda of Humble, along with various nieces and nephews, are also surviving.
Joe is preceded in death by his parents, Julio and Aurora Banda.
Pallbearers: Paul Anthony Lopez, Nicholas Rene Banda, Nick Tovar III, Steven Estrada, Mario Denker, Dave Ebarra. Honorary pallbearers: Joey Banda, Abrianna Banda, Veronica Tovar, Pete Landry Tovar, Violet M Tovar, Rachel Jasso, Frank Marek, along with various nieces and nephew along with his trucking friends.
Visitation will begin at 5 p.m. Thursday, June 13 at Triska Funeral Home with a Rosary recited at 6 p.m. Funeral Mass will begin at 10 a.m. Friday, June 14 at St. Roberts Catholic Church. Burial will follow at Holy Cross Memorial Park.