Suzanne M. Banta

Suzanne M Banta, 88, passed away January 5, 2022 at the United Methodist Homes in Johnson City, NY. She is missed so very much by her family. Sue was born July 17, 1933 in Morristown, NJ to George and Margaret (Wilson) Bergen. She grew up in Westwood, NJ with her two brothers, Dave and Bill. She moved to Maywood, NJ when she was 16, and she graduated from Bogota High School there in 1951, where she met her husband, Curtis W Banta. After high school, she took secretarial training and worked at the Mobil Oil Co. offices in New York City from 1951-54 while Curt was in the Navy. Sue and Curt were married on October 16, 1954 in Hackensack, NJ, and they celebrated their 67th Anniversary in October of 2021. She was a loving, caring, and devoted wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother, believing that family and children were worth her investments of love and time. Sue and Curt moved their family from NJ to Spencer, NY in 1973, and they enjoyed continuing to raise their daughters, Barb and Wendy, at their rural home. She worked for many years at the Racker Center (formerly the Special Children's Center) in Ithaca, NY as the secretary to the director, having several close friends among her co-workers. She also enjoyed sewing, crafts, square dancing, 4H, reading, and corresponding with several lifelong friends and close relatives. Sue and Curt moved to Trumansburg in the late 1980s. In retirement, they traveled to many national parks and enjoyed many cruises, from which she always brought back interesting items for her children and grandchildren. Most recently they were residents of the United Methodist Homes, Hilltop Campus. Suzanne is survived by her husband, Curtis W Banta, of the United Methodist Homes, her brother, William (Carol) Bergen of CA, her daughters and their husbands: Wendy and Duncan Davie, Barbara and Steven Brink; her beloved grandchildren: Gavin (Jen) Davie, Jocelyn (Jesse) Marsh, and Kyle (Jenn) Doolittle; her seven special great-granddaughters: Lilyanah and Makylah Doolittle; Kendra, Noelle, and Ivy Marsh; Lucy and Clare Davie; and a close cousin, Carol "Cher" Howe of NH. She was predeceased by her parents and her brother, David H Bergen. A graveside service will be held in the spring. Donations in her memory can be made to the United Methodist Homes, Johnson City, NY or the Racker Center, Ithaca, NY.